out of order

adjective
UK: /ˌaʊt əv ˈɔːrdər/
US: /ˌaʊt əv ˈɔːrdər/

  1. Not working correctly; broken.

    1. The elevator is out of order, so we have to take the stairs.
    2. The coffee machine is out of order again, which is quite inconvenient for everyone in the office.

  2. Not following the rules or normal procedure.

    1. His behavior was out of order and unacceptable.
    2. The lawyer argued that the question was out of order and should not be allowed during the cross-examination.

Synonyms

broken inappropriate unacceptable
out of order idiom

  1. Said when something is not working.

    1. "The printer is out of order," he said.
    2. A sign indicated the public restroom was out of order due to plumbing issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "out of order" in English means: Not working correctly; broken., Not following the rules or normal procedure..

The phonetic transcription of "out of order" is /ˌaʊt əv ˈɔːrdər/ in British English and /ˌaʊt əv ˈɔːrdər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "out of order": broken, inappropriate, unacceptable.

Example usage of "out of order": "The elevator is out of order, so we have to take the stairs.". More examples on the page.