Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To dissolve the organization of (a corporation, for example).
  • intransitive verb To cease to function as an organization; break up.
  • intransitive verb To separate and move in different directions; disperse.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To release from a bond, restriction, or connection of any kind; unbind; set free.
  • To break up the band or company of; dismiss or dissociate from united service or action; especially, to discharge in a body from military service: as, to disband an orchestra or a society; to disband troops, a regiment, or an army.
  • To dismiss or separate from a band or company; dissociate from a band: as, a disbanded soldier.
  • To break up the constitution of; disintegrate; destroy.
  • To be released from a bond, restriction, or connection; become disunited, separated, or dissolved.
  • To retire from united service or action; separate; break up: as, the army disbanded at the close of the war; the society disbanded on the loss of its funds.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To loose the bands of; to set free; to disunite; to scatter; to disperse; to break up the organization of; especially, to dismiss from military service.
  • transitive verb obsolete To divorce.
  • intransitive verb To become separated, broken up, dissolved, or scattered; especially, to quit military service by breaking up organization.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb to break up or cause to cease to exist

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb stop functioning or cohering as a unit
  • verb cause to break up or cease to function

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Obsolete French desbander, to separate someone from a troop : des-, dis- + Old French band, troop; see band.]

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Examples

  • The Irish Progressive Democrats 'decision to disband is obviously a great cause of discomfort for Welsh Lib Dems.

    Archive 2008-11-01 2008

  • The Irish Progressive Democrats 'decision to disband is obviously a great cause of discomfort for Welsh Lib Dems.

    Lib Dems: Soon to become extinct? 2008

  • The real reason in my opinion for the IRA finally agreeing to disband is that in the aftermath of 7/7 it has suddenly become very uncool to be a bomber and if you are one, you will now be associated in people’s minds not with a justifiable cause, but with extremism.

    Peace on one front « BuzzMachine 2005

  • When the Holy See tells a priestly fraternity to disband, that is, withdraws its recognition and suppresss it, that may or may not be a justified action, and it could be an injustice, but it's nothing at all like telling the fraternity to violate God's commandments.

    CONFIRMED 2009

  • When the Holy See tells a priestly fraternity to disband, that is, withdraws its recognition and suppresss it, that may or may not be a justified action, and it could be an injustice, but it's nothing at all like telling the fraternity to violate God's commandments.

    CONFIRMED 2009

  • But the international forces have warned that the four-month deadline given for security firms to disband is too short, and risks creating further instability, IWPR reported on Sept. Filling the security gap

    Hurriyet Dailynews KABUL - Institute for War 2010

  • I must confess that I don't understand the point of your next remark: "it is not true that the opposition in Lebanon has been calling for disarming Hizbullah." indeed, I have never once heard the hizbullah-led opposition call for hizbullah to disarm, and did not suggest as much in this story - which uses the word "disband," not "disarm".

    Sunday, May 25, 2008 As'ad 2008

  • I must confess that I don't understand the point of your next remark: "it is not true that the opposition in Lebanon has been calling for disarming Hizbullah." indeed, I have never once heard the hizbullah-led opposition call for hizbullah to disarm, and did not suggest as much in this story - which uses the word "disband," not "disarm".

    Saturday, May 31, 2008 As'ad 2008

  • Um, what part of the Constitution allows the President to "disband" Congress?

    Barry W. Lynn: Do We Really Need A 'Faith-Based' Initiative? 2008

  • It emerged at the weekend that Stofile had instructed Mamase in writing on 22 March this year to "disband" the 12-member housing board.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

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