Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having no elements in common: Used primarily in mathematics and set theory to describe sets that do not share any members. For example, two sets are disjoint if their intersection is empty.

2. Verb:

   • To become separated, disconnected, or disjointed: To come apart at the joints or connections.
   • To make disjoint, separated, or disconnected; to undo the joining of: To take something apart at its points of connection.
   • To separate at the joints: A specific action, often used in cooking or anatomy, to divide something by its natural joints.
   • To part; to cease or break association with: To dissociate or separate oneself from a group, idea, or situation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • In a Venn diagram, two circles that do not overlap represent disjoint sets.
  • The events are statistically disjoint, meaning they cannot happen at the same time.

• Verb:

  • The old book's binding was so weak that the pages began to disjoint.
  • The mechanic had to disjoint the pipes to fix the leak.
  • Please disjoint the chicken before cooking it for easier serving.
  • She decided to disjoint herself from the committee after the controversial decision.

Advanced Usage

• In Logic/Mathematics: Used to describe mutually exclusive events or sets.
  • The probability of two disjoint events occurring together is zero.
• Formal/Literary Use: Can describe a state of being disconnected or incoherent.
  • His narrative felt disjoint, jumping between unrelated ideas.

Variants and Related Words

• Disjointed (Adjective): Lacking a coherent sequence or connection; disconnected.
  • He gave a disjointed account of the evening's events.
• Disjointedly (Adverb): In a disconnected or incoherent manner.
  • The thoughts came to him disjointedly.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Separate, distinct, unconnected, mutually exclusive.
• Verb: Disconnect, separate, disengage, dissociate, disunite, disarticulate.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Disjoint" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.) - To disjoint from: A less common construction meaning to separate from. - The artist sought to disjoint his later work from his earlier commercial style.

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms centered on the word "disjoint.")

Adjective

1. having no elements in common

Verb

1. become separated, disconnected or disjoint
2. make disjoint, separated, or disconnected; undo the joining of
3. separate at the joints
   • disjoint the chicken before cooking it
4. part; cease or break association with
   • She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president