DictionaryAI

chaos

noun
KAY-ahs/ˈkeɪ.ɑs/UKKAY-os/ˈkeɪ.ɒs/

6 meanings of chaos

Practice

  1. 1
    disordernoununcountable
    Complete disorder, with no plan or order to anything.

    Like a room where everything has been thrown around and nothing is in its place.

    When the power went out, the whole office fell into chaos.

    The kids left the kitchen in total chaos after baking.

    UsageSay in chaos or total chaos; the adjective is chaotic.

    Similardisorder, confusion, mayhem, pandemonium, turmoil

    Oppositeorder, calm

    Note
  2. 2
    sciencenoununcountable
    The way some systems behave when tiny changes at the start grow into huge differences later.

    Like two leaves dropped side by side into a fast river that end up far apart downstream.

    Because of chaos, two weather forecasts that start almost the same can look nothing alike two weeks later.

    Tiny rounding errors in the computer kept growing bigger and bigger, a clear sign of chaos in the model.

    Note
  3. 3
    before creation (myth)noununcountable
    Matter with no shape or order, which old stories say existed before the world was made.

    Like a pile of mixed-up clay before someone shapes it into something.

    In the myth, the gods shaped the world out of chaos.

    Before there was earth or sky, there was only chaos.

    Similarvoid

    Oppositeorder, cosmos

    Note
  4. 4
    fantasy forcenoununcountable
    In some fantasy stories, one of two great forces of the world that fights against law.

    Like one team in a game whose whole goal is to break the rules the other team keeps making.

    The young wizard swore to serve chaos rather than law.

    In the game, the knights of chaos battle the armies of law.

    Oppositelaw

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    abyssnounobsoleteuncountable
    A huge, deep, empty gap or gulf.
    Note
  2. 6
    nounobsoleteuncountable
    The space or surroundings where something lives or exists.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Ancient Greek word "kháos," meaning a vast empty space or void.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts