interruption

noun

in·​ter·​rup·​tion ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən 

plural interruptions

1

: an act of interrupting something or someone or the state of being interrupted: such as

a

: a stoppage or hindering of an activity for a time

Our conversation continued without interruption for over an hour.

b

: a break in the continuity of something

Internet service interruptions

2

: something that causes a stoppage or break in the continuity of something

a rude interruption

watching television without commercial interruptions

Synonyms

• discontinuity
• gap
• hiatus
• hiccup
• hiccough
• interim
• interlude
• intermission
• interregnum
• interstice
• interval
• parenthesis

Examples of interruption in a Sentence

an interruption in cable service during the lightning storm

a brief interruption in the discussion while we all got coffee

Recent Examples on the Web

Advocates for Community Health, which represents community health centers, wrote in a statement that clinics in Maine, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, along with Virginia, had experienced interruptions. —Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 8 Feb. 2025

There were a record 259 rocket launches in 2024 — each one requiring an interruption or redirection of commercial air traffic. —Joann Muller, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025

Simon is one of the world’s largest luxury mall operators and is expected to step in without interruption to The Mall’s operations. —Evan Clark, WWD, 30 Jan. 2025

Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic neurological voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms in the muscles of the larynx (voice box), leading to interruptions in speech. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1