disjointed

/dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)dis-ˈjȯin-təd/ (ame, mw)

disjointed — adjective

  • disjointedpositive
  • more disjointedcomparative
  • most disjointedsuperlative

1. used to describe speech, writing, or ideas whose parts do not fit together in a

1.形容詞B2
釋義

used to describe speech, writing, or ideas whose parts do not fit together in a clear or logical way, making it hard for someone to understand the full meaning

例句

The professor's lecture was so disjointed that several students left the room early.

pattern: so + adjective + that-clause

Wei tried to follow the movie's disjointed plot but gave up halfway through.

collocation: disjointed plot

同義詞
  • incoherent

    stronger emphasis on being impossible to understand, often because the speaker is upset or unwell — 'incoherent' speech may not make sense at all, while 'disjointed' speech still has recognizable parts

  • disconnected

    suggests a lack of logical links between ideas; 'disconnected' can apply to relationships or networks, not just speech

  • fragmented

    suggests something has been broken into incomplete pieces; 'fragmented' memories are missing parts, while 'disjointed' memories exist fully but out of order

  • rambling

    adds the idea of going on too long while wandering off the main point

反義詞
  • coherent

    ideas or writing that fit together clearly and logically

  • connected

    parts that have clear logical or structural links

  • orderly

    arranged in a clear, expected sequence

文法句型

disjointed + noun (speech, plot, explanation, writing)

be + disjointed

用法筆記

Predominantly used with abstract nouns such as speech, writing, plot, explanation, narrative, or argument. Not used to describe someone's emotional state — a person feels 'confused' or 'upset', not 'disjointed'.

常見錯誤

❌I felt disjointed after hearing the bad news.
✅I felt confused and upset after hearing the bad news.
💡'Disjointed' describes things like speech or ideas, not a person's feelings.
❌The parts of the machine are disjointed.
✅The parts of the machine are disconnected.
💡For physical objects not at joints, use 'disconnected' or 'separated'.

2. physically separated or pulled apart at the point where two parts normally meet,

2.形容詞C1
釋義

physically separated or pulled apart at the point where two parts normally meet, especially describing a bone that has moved out of its natural position

例句

The old doll's disjointed arms and legs lay scattered across the attic floor.

collocation: disjointed limbs / arms / legs

Javier winced as the emergency doctor gently examined his disjointed shoulder.

同義詞
  • dislocated

    the standard medical term for a bone forced out of its socket; more precise and common in clinical contexts

  • separated

    more general term — anything pulled apart, not specifically at a joint

  • detached

    suggests complete separation rather than partial misalignment

反義詞
  • connected

    parts that are correctly attached to each other

  • attached

    fastened or joined at the appropriate point

  • intact

    remaining whole and undamaged

文法句型

disjointed + noun (limbs, bones, parts)

be + disjointed

用法筆記

Less common than the figurative sense (sense 1). In medical contexts involving bones, 'dislocated' is the standard term ('a dislocated shoulder'), not 'disjointed'. This sense appears more often in descriptions of old or broken objects, or in figurative writing that evokes physical separation.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor told me I have a disjointed finger.
✅The doctor told me I have a dislocated finger.
💡In medical English, 'dislocated' is the standard term for a bone out of its joint.