Definitions

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

  • noun A condition or scene of noisy confusion: synonym: noise.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The abode of all the demons or evil spirits; hell: a name invented and used by Milton rather as a proper name than a general term.
  • noun Hence Any lawless, disorderly, and noisy place or assemblage.
  • noun A loud noise, as from pandemonium.

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

  • noun The great hall or council chamber of demons or evil spirits.
  • noun An utterly lawless, riotous place or assemblage.
  • noun A condition of unrestrained disorder and chaotic, riotous uproar.

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

  • noun archaic A place where all demons live; Hell.
  • noun Chaos; tumultuous or lawless violence.
  • noun An outburst; loud, riotous uproar, especially of a crowd.

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

  • noun a state of extreme confusion and disorder

Etymologies

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

[From Pandæmonium, capital of Hell in Paradise Lost, an epic poem by John Milton : Greek pan-, pan- + Greek daimōn, lesser god, demon; see demon + New Latin -ium, neuter n. suffix; see -ium.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Coined by John Milton in "Paradise Lost," Pandæmonium, from Ancient Greek πᾶν (pan, "all") (equivalent to English pan-) + Late Latin daemonium ("evil spirit, demon"), from Ancient Greek δαίμων (daimōn, "demon").

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Examples

  • The pandemonium is still in the air, the giddy excitement from winning again.

    Worldcon's over. Now start working on next year's Worldcon! frankwu 2009

  • Conditions at the hospital were poor and Bedlam had entered the English language as a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • Conditions at the hospital were poor and Bedlam had entered the English language as a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • By the mid-sixteenth century, Bethlem had become Bedlam, a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • Conditions at the hospital were poor and Bedlam had entered the English language as a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • By the mid-sixteenth century, Bethlem had become Bedlam, a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • By the mid-sixteenth century, Bethlem had become Bedlam, a byword for pandemonium.

    Bedlam Catharine Arnold 2008

  • More pandemonium is expected now that Nebraska has returned.

    USATODAY.com - Fighting Irish to the College World Series 2002

  • When it missed, Madison Square Garden erupted in pandemonium - as opposite a collective emotion as there could be from the way the crowd felt at halftime.

    USA TODAY Latest news 2000

  • It may not simply be coincidence that the word "pandemonium" -- uproar and noise -- comes right after it in the dictionary.

    Salon 2009

Comments

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  • "She is a hoary pandemonium of ills, enlarged glands, mumps, quinsy, bunions, hayfever, bedsores, ringworm, floating kidney, Derbyshire neck, warts, bilious attacks, gallstones, cold feet, varicose veins."

    Joyce, Ulysses, 14

    January 27, 2007

  • "the high Capitol of Satan and his peers" Paradise Lost

    July 15, 2008

  • JM has observed an overcrowded panda habitat that was pandemonium.

    May 25, 2011