dismantled

Dismantled is the past participle of dismantle and may function as an adjective. In everyday use, to dismantle something means to take it apart into its component parts, often with the aim of repair, reassembly, or disposal. When something is described as dismantled, it is in a state of partial or complete disassembly, or has been taken apart.

Etymology: The verb dismantle dates from Middle English with influences from Old French, and possibly other Romance sources. The prefix de- signals removal or reversal, and the sense of taking apart emerged in the early modern period.

In politics and industry, dismantling is used to describe deliberate deconstruction of state machinery, weapons programs, or organizational structures. It is often contrasted with decommissioning, which commonly refers to retiring equipment rather than removal or disassembly.

See also: dismantlement, disassembly, decommissioning, dissolution.