Standard Lemma guide

disconnect

noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dɪskəˈnɛkt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛkt
  • /ˈdɪskənɛkt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S K AH0 N EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A break or interruption in an existing connection, continuum, or process; disconnection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A switch used to isolate a portion of an electrical circuit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A lack of connection or accord; a mismatch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • There's a disconnect between what they think is happening and what is really going on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The deliberate severing of ties with family, friends, etc. considered antagonistic towards Scientology.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Scientology, lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To sever or interrupt a connection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • My wi-fi got disconnected.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

Of a person, to become detached or withdrawn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

an unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he felt a gulf between himself and his former friends
  • there is a vast disconnect between public opinion and federal policy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gulf, disconnection

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disparity

9

verb

Meaning 9

make disconnected, disjoin or unfasten

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: connect

Broader terms: separate, disunite, divide, part

Narrower terms: uncouple, decouple, detach

10

verb

Meaning 10

pull the plug of (electrical appliances) and render inoperable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unplug the hair dryer after using it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unplug

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: undo

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Old French des-bor. ▲ Latin dis-bor. Middle English dis- English dis- Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin nectō Latin cōnectō Latin connectō English connect English disconnect From dis- + connect.

Across languages

Translations

72 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 斷開 /断开 (duànkāi) — break in an existing connection
  • Finnish: katkos — break in an existing connection
  • Finnish: katkaisu — break in an existing connection
  • French: déconnecter — break in an existing connection
  • German: Unterbrechung — break in an existing connection
  • German: Unterbruch — break in an existing connection
  • Greek: αποσύνδεση (aposýndesi) — break in an existing connection
  • Hungarian: kapcsolat bontása — break in an existing connection
  • Japanese: 切る (kiru) — break in an existing connection
  • Japanese: 切断する (setsudan suru) — break in an existing connection
  • Romanian: deconectare — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: разъединя́ть (razʺjedinjátʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: разъедини́ть (razʺjedinítʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: отсоединя́ть (otsojedinjátʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: отсоедини́ть (otsojedinítʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: отключа́ть (otključátʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Russian: отключи́ть (otključítʹ) — break in an existing connection
  • Swedish: frånkoppling — break in an existing connection
  • Finnish: siteiden katkaisu — scientology: deliberate severing of ties with family and friends
  • Armenian: անջատել (anǰatel) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Bulgarian: разединявам (razedinjavam) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Bulgarian: разделям (razdeljam) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Bulgarian: прекъсвам (prekǎsvam) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Catalan: desconnectar — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Czech: odpojit — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Finnish: katkaista — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Finnish: katkaista yhteys — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Finnish: kytkeä irti — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • German: trennen — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • German: unterbrechen — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Greek: αποσυνδέω (aposyndéo) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Hebrew: ניתק (niték) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Hungarian: szétkapcsol — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Italian: sconnettere — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Portuguese: desconectar — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Romanian: deconecta — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Russian: отключа́ть (otključátʹ) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Russian: отключи́ть (otključítʹ) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Spanish: desconectar — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Swedish: koppla från — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: відключа́ти (vidključáty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: відключи́ти (vidključýty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: роз'є́днувати (rozʺjédnuvaty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: роз'єдна́ти (rozʺjednáty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: від'є́днувати (vidʺjédnuvaty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Ukrainian: від'єдна́ти (vidʺjednáty) — to sever or interrupt a connection
  • Armenian: անջատել (anǰatel) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Bulgarian: откачам (otkačam) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Bulgarian: прекъсвам (prekǎsvam) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Catalan: desconnectar — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Catalan: desendollar — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Finnish: kytkeä irti — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Finnish: katkaista virta — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • French: débrancher — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • French: déconnecter — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • German: trennen — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Greek: αποσυνδέω (aposyndéo) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Greek: κλείνω (kleíno) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Khmer: ផ្តាច់ (phtac) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Portuguese: desconectar — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Portuguese: desligar — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Spanish: desconectar — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Swedish: koppla bort — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Swedish: koppla från — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Ukrainian: відключа́ти (vidključáty) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Ukrainian: відключи́ти (vidključýty) — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Vietnamese: ngắt điện — to remove the connection between an appliance and an electrical power source
  • Finnish: eristäytyä — to become detached or withdrawn
  • Finnish: vetäytyä kuoreensa — to become detached or withdrawn
  • German: trennen — to become detached or withdrawn
  • Greek: αποκόβομαι (apokóvomai) — to become detached or withdrawn
  • Greek: αποσύρομαι (aposýromai) — to become detached or withdrawn