dislocate

IPA/ˈdɪsləkeɪt/
KK[dˈɪsloket]IPA/ˈdɪsləʊkeɪt/

dislocate — verb

  • dislocatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • dislocateshe / she / it
  • dislocatedpast simple
  • dislocating-ing form

1. to cause a bone to leave its normal position inside a joint, usually after a fal

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a bone to leave its normal position inside a joint, usually after a fall or injury

Example

Mira dislocated her shoulder when she fell off her bicycle.

transitive: dislocate + body part

The doctor said his jaw was dislocated after the car accident.

passive: be dislocated

Common collocations
  • dislocate + shoulder / knee / jaw / finger / elbow / hip
  • get / have + a dislocated + [body part]
  • suffer + a dislocated + [body part]
Synonyms
  • displace

    more general; can refer to any object moving from its proper position, not just bones

Grammar Patterns

dislocate + body part

be/get + dislocated

Usage Note

Often used in the passive voice (be/get dislocated) when describing the injury itself rather than the cause of it.

Common Mistakes

I dislocated when playing basketball.
I dislocated my finger when playing basketball.
The verb 'dislocate' always needs an object (the body part) or use the passive voice.
He dislocated his arm out of place.
He dislocated his arm.
Adding 'out of place' is redundant because 'dislocate' already means 'to put out of position'.

2. to disturb the normal working of a system, process, or arrangement so severely t

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to disturb the normal working of a system, process, or arrangement so severely that it cannot continue smoothly

Example

The strike dislocated train services across the whole country.

dislocate + service / system (formal usage)

Christopher's sudden move abroad dislocated the family's daily routine.

Common collocations
  • dislocate + services / transport / system
  • dislocate + routine / schedule / plan
  • dislocate + economy / trade / market
Synonyms
  • disrupt

    more common and slightly less formal; preferred in everyday and news contexts

  • disorganize

    less severe in impact; suggests confusion and disorder rather than a breakdown of function

  • disturb

    weaker; can mean simply interrupting or creating slight inconvenience

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

dislocate + noun phrase

Usage Note

Common in formal or news writing about large-scale disruptions — transport, economy, politics. Less frequent in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The rain dislocated our picnic.
The rain ruined our picnic.
'Dislocate' (sense 2) describes significant disruption to systems or plans and is too strong for minor inconveniences.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

'Dislocate' (sense 2) is the strongest of these three in terms of severity — it implies that a system or process has been moved so far from its normal state that it can no longer function smoothly. 'Disrupt' is more common and slightly less formal; it suggests an interruption that causes trouble but may or may not be lasting (e.g., 'The storm disrupted internet services'). 'Disorganize' focuses on the result of confusion and lack of order, usually with a milder impact ('The last-minute changes disorganized the team's workflow'). 'Disturb' is the weakest of the group — it can mean simply interrupting or creating slight inconvenience ('The noise disturbed my concentration'). Choose 'dislocate' when you want to emphasize that something has been knocked out of its proper place or order, as in 'The sudden change in policy dislocated the entire education system.'

disrupt ↗disorganize ↗disturb ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'dis-' (meaning 'apart, away') and 'locatus' (meaning 'placed'), from 'locare' (to place). The word entered English in the late 1500s with the physical meaning of moving something from its proper position. The figurative use — referring to systems, plans, and social order — developed and became common in the 1800s.