disposal
noun
dis·pos·al
di-ˈspō-zəl 
1
: the power or authority to make use of as one chooses : the power or authority to dispose of something
The car was at my disposal.
2
: the act or process of disposing: such as
a
: orderly placement or distribution
the disposal of troops along the ridge
b
c
: the act or action of presenting or bestowing (see bestow sense 4) something
disposal of favors
the disposal of property
d
: systematic destruction
especially
: destruction or transformation of garbage
trash disposal
the disposal of nuclear waste
3
[garbage disposal unit]
: a device used to reduce waste matter (as by grinding)
putting food scraps down the disposal
Examples of disposal in a Sentence
the disposal of nuclear waste
trash disposal is on Wednesday in our neighborhood
Recent Examples on the Web
This established a formal review process for government document disposal, but agencies still discarded records, often haphazardly, until stricter records management laws were enacted.
—
Elizabeth Call, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
The well began life when it was drilled for oil in the 1950s but was then converted to a saltwater disposal well and eventually plugged in 1977, with the well later caving in, according to the Texas Tribune.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Real estate operating revenue was $10.7 million, a slight decrease from $11.1 million in the previous year due to a reduction in lease revenue following the disposal of an office building.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
It’s not designed to explain or elucidate its massive collection of characters and concepts; it’s designed to flex on having them all at its disposal.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disposal
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Elizabeth Call, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
The well began life when it was drilled for oil in the 1950s but was then converted to a saltwater disposal well and eventually plugged in 1977, with the well later caving in, according to the Texas Tribune.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Real estate operating revenue was $10.7 million, a slight decrease from $11.1 million in the previous year due to a reduction in lease revenue following the disposal of an office building.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
It’s not designed to explain or elucidate its massive collection of characters and concepts; it’s designed to flex on having them all at its disposal.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disposal
Cite this Entry
“Disposal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disposal. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
disposal
noun
dis·pos·al
dis-ˈpō-zəl
1
: the right or power to use or control something : command
funds at our disposal
2
: an orderly arrangement
the disposal of troops for battle
3
: a getting rid of or putting out of the way
trash disposal
5
: the transfer of something to a new owner
a disposal of property
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