Dislocate means to move something out of its normal position. It is most often used for a bone or joint, but it can also mean to disturbto interrupt or upset the regular order or peaceful state of something the usual arrangementthe way parts are organized or placed in relation to each other or relationshipthe connection or link between two people, groups, or things of things.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪsˈloʊ.keɪt/
Easy pronunciation: dis-LOH-kayt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the second syllable: LOH.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dislocate Meaning
to move a bone or joint out of its normal place
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move out of position
Example: She dislocated her shoulder while skiing.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- luxate — A direct medical synonym, but less common in everyday English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Dislocate
Meaning 2
to disturb the normal arrangement or connection of something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: put out of its usual place, position, or relationship
Example: The storm dislocated transport across the region.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Dislocate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- luxate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use dislocate only for injuries, but it can also mean to disrupt the normal position or arrangement of something.
- Do not confuse dislocate with general words like slip, which are not precise substitutes in most contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dislocate mean?
Dislocate means to move something out of its normal position. Most often, it refers to a bone or joint being forced out of place.
What is a simple synonym for dislocate?
A close medical synonym is luxate, but it is uncommon in everyday speech.
Can dislocate be used outside medicine?
Yes. It can also mean to put something out of its usual place or disrupt its normal arrangement or relationship.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
