Community Chat

[MOONRISER]

I use disorganized, but unorganized is used often also. I looked the definition up in Websters, and there seems to be a slight difference, but nothing I can say for sure. Which one do you use and can you explain to me what the difference is?

[Suhse]

This is more of a personal opinion on useage than anything remotely official:

Unorganized: I'm more likely to use it when talking about an overall impression: "Their office seems very unorganized".

Disorganized: More of a specific situation: "She gave the presentation, but, I wasn't impressed, she seemed so disorganized."

[qualitygal]

Suhse39 gave a great answer, I don't use disorganized, just unorganized but more than those two, I use organized.

[faeriemoon]

On 9/8/2014 SUHSE39 said:

This is more of a personal opinion on useage than anything remotely official:

Unorganized: I'm more likely to use it when talking about an overall impression: "Their office seems very unorganized".

Disorganized: More of a specific situation: "She gave the presentation, but, I wasn't impressed, she seemed so disorganized."

This.

[sidsmom]

Disorganized: ""I have no idea where it's at""...frantically looking!

Unorganized: ""I know where it's at""....as they recite all the contents in each pile.

Much like spending an hour on hair/makeup to make it look like you just rolled out of bed without makeup! Intentional vs unintentional.

[insomniac]

I've never used ""disorganized."" I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone say it.

[croemer]

I use unorganized.

[VanSleepy]

From what I just read, unorganized is when you have not yet attempted to organize at all; disorganized is when it has not been organized very well or has been messed up.

[ive been framed]

On 9/8/2014 SUHSE39 said:

This is more of a personal opinion on useage than anything remotely official:

Unorganized: I'm more likely to use it when talking about an overall impression: "Their office seems very unorganized".

Disorganized: More of a specific situation: "She gave the presentation, but, I wasn't impressed, she seemed so disorganized."

I thought the opposite, SUSHE! " The business report was unorganized because the office was so disorganized." Me thinks it could work both ways.

[LilacTree]

I would use "unorganized" if I were referring to an informal group of any kind that has not been legally incorporated or officially made an entity or association. I think of it in more business terms.

I use "disorganized" myself when I look at my bedroom these days and see stuff all over the place, or when I can't get my thoughts together . . . more personally, I guess one would say. Therefore, I mostly use "disorganized" in my every day life.