Desorganizar

Desorganizar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote causing something to lose its organization or order. It can refer to a physical arrangement, such as papers or furniture, as well as to plans, schedules, or systems. The action implies disruption, scattering, or the breakdown of previously established structure. In both languages it is typically transitive, taking a direct object (desorganizar algo), and can be used metaphorically to describe disorder within organizations, processes, or groups.

Etymology: The term derives from the prefix des- (indicating reversal) combined with organizar (to organize). It is a cognate in Spanish and Portuguese, with related nouns such as desorganización (Spanish) and desorganização (Portuguese) describing the state of disorganization.

Usage: Desorganizar is common in business, logistics, event planning, and everyday speech to indicate disruption of order, whether intentional or accidental. Examples include: Spanish: desorganizar el archivo or desorganizar la agenda; Portuguese: desorganizar o arquivo or desorganizar a agenda, desorganizar a equipe.

See also: desorganización, desorganização, organización, desorden.