Disorganized or Unorganized?












0















Does anyone here know the difference between unorganized and disorganized?



As far as I know, disorganized refers to something that was once organized and now isn't, and unorganized refers to something that lacks organization from the start.
Is that correct?










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  • I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

    – remarkl
    Feb 23 at 23:30








  • 1





    Unorganized and disorganized.

    – Jason Bassford
    Feb 24 at 8:12
















0















Does anyone here know the difference between unorganized and disorganized?



As far as I know, disorganized refers to something that was once organized and now isn't, and unorganized refers to something that lacks organization from the start.
Is that correct?










share|improve this question
















bumped to the homepage by Community 22 hours ago


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
















  • I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

    – remarkl
    Feb 23 at 23:30








  • 1





    Unorganized and disorganized.

    – Jason Bassford
    Feb 24 at 8:12














0












0








0


1






Does anyone here know the difference between unorganized and disorganized?



As far as I know, disorganized refers to something that was once organized and now isn't, and unorganized refers to something that lacks organization from the start.
Is that correct?










share|improve this question
















Does anyone here know the difference between unorganized and disorganized?



As far as I know, disorganized refers to something that was once organized and now isn't, and unorganized refers to something that lacks organization from the start.
Is that correct?







word-usage differences negative-prefixes






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edited Feb 23 at 23:39









sumelic

50.1k8118226




50.1k8118226










asked Feb 23 at 22:27









Paco LopezPaco Lopez

1




1





bumped to the homepage by Community 22 hours ago


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.







bumped to the homepage by Community 22 hours ago


This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.















  • I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

    – remarkl
    Feb 23 at 23:30








  • 1





    Unorganized and disorganized.

    – Jason Bassford
    Feb 24 at 8:12



















  • I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

    – remarkl
    Feb 23 at 23:30








  • 1





    Unorganized and disorganized.

    – Jason Bassford
    Feb 24 at 8:12

















I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

– remarkl
Feb 23 at 23:30







I use "unorganized" to imply fecklessness, like apathetic voters, and "disorganized" to imply uselessness, like the papers on my desk.

– remarkl
Feb 23 at 23:30






1




1





Unorganized and disorganized.

– Jason Bassford
Feb 24 at 8:12





Unorganized and disorganized.

– Jason Bassford
Feb 24 at 8:12










2 Answers
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You could certainly attempt to construct two different usages along the lines you suggest but they would pass most native speakers by.



Consider the very strong case for regarding 'disinterested' and 'uninterested' as having very, and usefully, distinct meanings. Even in that case the distinction is very frequently not observed, to the extent that modern dictionaries record them as being used as synonyms.



If you wanted to use those two words in the senses you describe you would need to explain that usage before doing so. Otherwise the reader/listener would assume they were synonyms.






share|improve this answer
























  • Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

    – Paco Lopez
    Feb 23 at 22:55



















0














Something disorganized either had its organization removed or lacks organization; something unorganized never was organized or lacks organization.



First, a clue to some difference between the two comes through in each word's etymology. From the Oxford English Dictionary, disorganized has an etymology that suggests it can have a more active sense of something ordered being disorganized:




Unorganized: un- prefix1 + organized adj. Compare disorganized adj.



Disorganized: disorganize v. + -ed suffix1.




Disorganize is a verb that means to disrupt the order of something (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, as an adjective that was formed from the verb, disorganized may suggest that something formerly with order has been thrown into disorder. The Oxford English Dictionary for disorganized includes verbs suggesting some kind of loss:




Deprived or destitute of organization; having lost, or being without, organic connection or systematic arrangement; thrown into confusion, disordered.




However, note that disorganized need not be something made disordered. The unbolded terms destitute of organization, being without organic connection, and disordered suggest that something could lack organization from the start. In Merriam Webster's example sentence "The meeting was very disorganized," nothing suggests whether the meeting was always disorganized or whether it became disorganized. Contexts allow for either case.



Meanwhile, unorganized doesn't come from a verb and serves as a general description of a state. The verb unorganize (sic) does not exist in the dictionaries I consulted and it is relatively uncommon as a search result. Something unorganized lacks organization (Merriam-Webster).



So the two terms are somewhat differentiated, but that differentiation is subtle. My desk may be either disorganized or unorganized, but it might be odd to describe a routing army as unorganized unless they were unorganized from the start. Disorganized would describe that the army had been put into disarray.






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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
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    0














    You could certainly attempt to construct two different usages along the lines you suggest but they would pass most native speakers by.



    Consider the very strong case for regarding 'disinterested' and 'uninterested' as having very, and usefully, distinct meanings. Even in that case the distinction is very frequently not observed, to the extent that modern dictionaries record them as being used as synonyms.



    If you wanted to use those two words in the senses you describe you would need to explain that usage before doing so. Otherwise the reader/listener would assume they were synonyms.






    share|improve this answer
























    • Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

      – Paco Lopez
      Feb 23 at 22:55
















    0














    You could certainly attempt to construct two different usages along the lines you suggest but they would pass most native speakers by.



    Consider the very strong case for regarding 'disinterested' and 'uninterested' as having very, and usefully, distinct meanings. Even in that case the distinction is very frequently not observed, to the extent that modern dictionaries record them as being used as synonyms.



    If you wanted to use those two words in the senses you describe you would need to explain that usage before doing so. Otherwise the reader/listener would assume they were synonyms.






    share|improve this answer
























    • Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

      – Paco Lopez
      Feb 23 at 22:55














    0












    0








    0







    You could certainly attempt to construct two different usages along the lines you suggest but they would pass most native speakers by.



    Consider the very strong case for regarding 'disinterested' and 'uninterested' as having very, and usefully, distinct meanings. Even in that case the distinction is very frequently not observed, to the extent that modern dictionaries record them as being used as synonyms.



    If you wanted to use those two words in the senses you describe you would need to explain that usage before doing so. Otherwise the reader/listener would assume they were synonyms.






    share|improve this answer













    You could certainly attempt to construct two different usages along the lines you suggest but they would pass most native speakers by.



    Consider the very strong case for regarding 'disinterested' and 'uninterested' as having very, and usefully, distinct meanings. Even in that case the distinction is very frequently not observed, to the extent that modern dictionaries record them as being used as synonyms.



    If you wanted to use those two words in the senses you describe you would need to explain that usage before doing so. Otherwise the reader/listener would assume they were synonyms.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Feb 23 at 22:51









    JeremyCJeremyC

    2,545313




    2,545313













    • Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

      – Paco Lopez
      Feb 23 at 22:55



















    • Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

      – Paco Lopez
      Feb 23 at 22:55

















    Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

    – Paco Lopez
    Feb 23 at 22:55





    Fair enough. I never really paid attention to the difference until I encountered both words in an English class about prefixes.

    – Paco Lopez
    Feb 23 at 22:55













    0














    Something disorganized either had its organization removed or lacks organization; something unorganized never was organized or lacks organization.



    First, a clue to some difference between the two comes through in each word's etymology. From the Oxford English Dictionary, disorganized has an etymology that suggests it can have a more active sense of something ordered being disorganized:




    Unorganized: un- prefix1 + organized adj. Compare disorganized adj.



    Disorganized: disorganize v. + -ed suffix1.




    Disorganize is a verb that means to disrupt the order of something (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, as an adjective that was formed from the verb, disorganized may suggest that something formerly with order has been thrown into disorder. The Oxford English Dictionary for disorganized includes verbs suggesting some kind of loss:




    Deprived or destitute of organization; having lost, or being without, organic connection or systematic arrangement; thrown into confusion, disordered.




    However, note that disorganized need not be something made disordered. The unbolded terms destitute of organization, being without organic connection, and disordered suggest that something could lack organization from the start. In Merriam Webster's example sentence "The meeting was very disorganized," nothing suggests whether the meeting was always disorganized or whether it became disorganized. Contexts allow for either case.



    Meanwhile, unorganized doesn't come from a verb and serves as a general description of a state. The verb unorganize (sic) does not exist in the dictionaries I consulted and it is relatively uncommon as a search result. Something unorganized lacks organization (Merriam-Webster).



    So the two terms are somewhat differentiated, but that differentiation is subtle. My desk may be either disorganized or unorganized, but it might be odd to describe a routing army as unorganized unless they were unorganized from the start. Disorganized would describe that the army had been put into disarray.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      Something disorganized either had its organization removed or lacks organization; something unorganized never was organized or lacks organization.



      First, a clue to some difference between the two comes through in each word's etymology. From the Oxford English Dictionary, disorganized has an etymology that suggests it can have a more active sense of something ordered being disorganized:




      Unorganized: un- prefix1 + organized adj. Compare disorganized adj.



      Disorganized: disorganize v. + -ed suffix1.




      Disorganize is a verb that means to disrupt the order of something (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, as an adjective that was formed from the verb, disorganized may suggest that something formerly with order has been thrown into disorder. The Oxford English Dictionary for disorganized includes verbs suggesting some kind of loss:




      Deprived or destitute of organization; having lost, or being without, organic connection or systematic arrangement; thrown into confusion, disordered.




      However, note that disorganized need not be something made disordered. The unbolded terms destitute of organization, being without organic connection, and disordered suggest that something could lack organization from the start. In Merriam Webster's example sentence "The meeting was very disorganized," nothing suggests whether the meeting was always disorganized or whether it became disorganized. Contexts allow for either case.



      Meanwhile, unorganized doesn't come from a verb and serves as a general description of a state. The verb unorganize (sic) does not exist in the dictionaries I consulted and it is relatively uncommon as a search result. Something unorganized lacks organization (Merriam-Webster).



      So the two terms are somewhat differentiated, but that differentiation is subtle. My desk may be either disorganized or unorganized, but it might be odd to describe a routing army as unorganized unless they were unorganized from the start. Disorganized would describe that the army had been put into disarray.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        Something disorganized either had its organization removed or lacks organization; something unorganized never was organized or lacks organization.



        First, a clue to some difference between the two comes through in each word's etymology. From the Oxford English Dictionary, disorganized has an etymology that suggests it can have a more active sense of something ordered being disorganized:




        Unorganized: un- prefix1 + organized adj. Compare disorganized adj.



        Disorganized: disorganize v. + -ed suffix1.




        Disorganize is a verb that means to disrupt the order of something (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, as an adjective that was formed from the verb, disorganized may suggest that something formerly with order has been thrown into disorder. The Oxford English Dictionary for disorganized includes verbs suggesting some kind of loss:




        Deprived or destitute of organization; having lost, or being without, organic connection or systematic arrangement; thrown into confusion, disordered.




        However, note that disorganized need not be something made disordered. The unbolded terms destitute of organization, being without organic connection, and disordered suggest that something could lack organization from the start. In Merriam Webster's example sentence "The meeting was very disorganized," nothing suggests whether the meeting was always disorganized or whether it became disorganized. Contexts allow for either case.



        Meanwhile, unorganized doesn't come from a verb and serves as a general description of a state. The verb unorganize (sic) does not exist in the dictionaries I consulted and it is relatively uncommon as a search result. Something unorganized lacks organization (Merriam-Webster).



        So the two terms are somewhat differentiated, but that differentiation is subtle. My desk may be either disorganized or unorganized, but it might be odd to describe a routing army as unorganized unless they were unorganized from the start. Disorganized would describe that the army had been put into disarray.






        share|improve this answer













        Something disorganized either had its organization removed or lacks organization; something unorganized never was organized or lacks organization.



        First, a clue to some difference between the two comes through in each word's etymology. From the Oxford English Dictionary, disorganized has an etymology that suggests it can have a more active sense of something ordered being disorganized:




        Unorganized: un- prefix1 + organized adj. Compare disorganized adj.



        Disorganized: disorganize v. + -ed suffix1.




        Disorganize is a verb that means to disrupt the order of something (Merriam-Webster). Consequently, as an adjective that was formed from the verb, disorganized may suggest that something formerly with order has been thrown into disorder. The Oxford English Dictionary for disorganized includes verbs suggesting some kind of loss:




        Deprived or destitute of organization; having lost, or being without, organic connection or systematic arrangement; thrown into confusion, disordered.




        However, note that disorganized need not be something made disordered. The unbolded terms destitute of organization, being without organic connection, and disordered suggest that something could lack organization from the start. In Merriam Webster's example sentence "The meeting was very disorganized," nothing suggests whether the meeting was always disorganized or whether it became disorganized. Contexts allow for either case.



        Meanwhile, unorganized doesn't come from a verb and serves as a general description of a state. The verb unorganize (sic) does not exist in the dictionaries I consulted and it is relatively uncommon as a search result. Something unorganized lacks organization (Merriam-Webster).



        So the two terms are somewhat differentiated, but that differentiation is subtle. My desk may be either disorganized or unorganized, but it might be odd to describe a routing army as unorganized unless they were unorganized from the start. Disorganized would describe that the army had been put into disarray.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



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        answered Feb 23 at 22:54









        TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin

        6,0991127




        6,0991127






























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