Word

chaos

noun C1

UK /ˈkeɪɒs/

US /ˈkeɪˌɑs/

Meanings

noun

a state of complete confusion and lack of order, especially when control has broken down

noun

a situation where many things happen at the same time in a way that feels overwhelming and hard to manage

Definition

Chaos is a state of complete disorder where things happen in a confused, uncontrolled way.

Chaos refers to a situation in which there is no clear order, control, or plan, and events feel confusing and unpredictable. It is often used to describe messy environments, disorganized processes, or moments when many problems happen at once. The word can describe both physical disorder (like a crowded room) and social or organizational disorder (like a poorly managed event).

Examples

When the projector failed five minutes before my presentation, the room slipped into chaos until I shared my slides from a laptop.
After the surprise announcement, you could feel chaos spreading through the office as everyone tried to revise the plan at once.
As the referee lost control of the match, he watched chaos erupt along the touchline.
Because the schedule kept changing, they described the conference logistics as chaos rather than coordination.

Common mistake

Learners often use "chaos" as a countable noun (e.g., "a chaos"), but it is usually uncountable: say "chaos" or "a state of chaos."