English

Etymology

Coined by John Milton in Paradise Lost as Pandæmonium, from Greek πᾶν (“all”) + Latin daemonium (“evil spirit, demon”), from Greek δαιμόνιον (“deity”).

Pronunciation

RP: /ˌpændɪˈməʊnɪəm/
General American: /ˌpændəˈmoʊni.əm/
Rhymes with: -oʊniəm

Noun

pandemonium (plural: pandemonia)

A loud, wild, tumultuous protest, disorder, or chaotic situation, usually involving a crowd and often violent.
Synonyms: chaos, bedlam

“Whatever all this pandemonium means, I suppose the police station will help us.” — G. K. Chesterton

“Whenever you have violent pandemonium, there's the overwhelming possibility for panic and tragedy.” — The Boston Globe, October 22, 2004

An outburst; loud, riotous uproar, especially of a crowd.
Synonyms: outburst, uproar

“Cue pandemonium in the stands.” — The Guardian, March 14, 2017

A group of parrots. (collective noun)

Used as a Pun (Video Example)

This short clip humorously plays on the word “pandemonium” through chaotic panda imagery.

Derived terms

pandemonic
pandemoniac
pandemoniacal
pandemoniacally
pandemoniac
pandemoniacal
pandemoniacally
pandemonious
pandemonium architecture
pandemonium effect
pandamonium
fandemonium

Pandemonium