# disperse

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈspɜːs/ · frequency rank #19,578

## Definitions
1. To scatter in different directions.
2. To break up and disappear; to dissipate.
3. To disseminate.
4. To separate rays of light, etc., according to wavelength; to refract.
5. To distribute throughout.

## Etymology
From Middle French disperser, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergō (“to scatter abroad, disperse”), from dis- (“apart”) + spargō (“to scatter”); see sparse.

## Easily confused with
- **diverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disperse-vs-diverse)
- **dispose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disperse-vs-dispose)
- **dispersed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disperse-vs-dispersed)
- **disease** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-disperse)
- **dispense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dispense-vs-disperse)
- **dispersal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dispersal-vs-disperse)
- **dispenser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dispenser-vs-disperse)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddisperse`, `dipserse`, `diseprse`, `disperes`, `disperrse`, `dispersse`, `dispesre`, `dispperse`, `disprese`, `dissperse`, `dsiperse`, `idsperse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/disperse