dislocate
verb
dis·lo·cate
ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt 
-lə-;
(ˌ)dis-ˈlō-
dislocated; dislocating; dislocates
1
: to put out of place
specifically
: to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
2
: to force a change in the usual status, relationship, or order of : disrupt
Synonyms
Examples of dislocate in a Sentence
She fell and dislocated her shoulder.
The new hotel will dislocate several businesses.
Thousands of workers have been dislocated by the latest economic crisis.
Recent Examples on the Web
After the antagonistic Mari and Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) get at each other’s throats over dinner, Mari goes for a walk, only to fall into an open pit and dislocate her knee.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
However, Travis missed last season after fracturing and dislocating his ankle while at Florida State in 2023.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
That was the game in 2019, when Mahomes, on a quarterback sneak, dislocated his kneecap and missed his next two starts.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
Several restaurants in Altadena survived the fire but, with so many of their customers dislocated, now have to contend with what comes next — an uncertain future paired with the mounting costs of cleanup, rent and other operating expenses for businesses that can’t operate.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dislocate 
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Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
However, Travis missed last season after fracturing and dislocating his ankle while at Florida State in 2023.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025
That was the game in 2019, when Mahomes, on a quarterback sneak, dislocated his kneecap and missed his next two starts.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
Several restaurants in Altadena survived the fire but, with so many of their customers dislocated, now have to contend with what comes next — an uncertain future paired with the mounting costs of cleanup, rent and other operating expenses for businesses that can’t operate.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dislocate
Dictionary Entries Near dislocate
Cite this Entry
“Dislocate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dislocate. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dislocate
verb
dis·lo·cate
ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt
(ˈ)dis-ˈlō-
1
: to put out of place
especially
: to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
2
: disrupt
Medical Definition
dislocate
transitive verb
dis·lo·cate
ˈdis-lō-ˌkāt
-lə-; (ˈ)dis-ˈlō-ˌkāt
-lə-; (ˈ)dis-ˈlō-ˌkāt
dislocated; dislocating
: to put (a body part) out of order by displacing a bone from its normal connections with another bone
he dislocated his shoulder
also
: to displace (a bone) from normal connections with another bone
the humerus was dislocated in the fall
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