confusion

[ kuhn-fyoo-zhuhn ]

noun

1. the act of confusing. confusing.
2. the state of being confused.

   Synonyms: distraction

3. disorder; upheaval; tumult; chaos:

   The army retreated in confusion.

   Synonyms: disarray, mess, jumble, turmoil

4. lack of clearness or distinctness:

   a confusion in his mind between right and wrong.

5. perplexity; bewilderment:

   The more difficult questions left us in complete confusion.

6. embarrassment or abashment:

   He blushed in confusion.

   Synonyms: mortification, shame

7. Psychiatry. a disturbed mental state; disorientation.
8. Archaic. defeat, overthrow, or ruin.

confusion

/ kənˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the act of confusing or the state of being confused
2. disorder; jumble
3. bewilderment; perplexity
4. lack of clarity; indistinctness
5. embarrassment; abashment

Derived Forms

• conˈfusional, adjective

Other Words From

• con·fusion·al adjective
• precon·fusion noun
• recon·fusion noun
• super·con·fusion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of confusion¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin confūsiōn-, stem of confūsiō “disorder, mixture,” literally “a mixing,” from confūs(us) “mixed” (past participle of cōnfundere; confound ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

There was a momentary confusion.

From Salon

That’s because the case brings together two muddy legal regimes: copyright law, which is renowned for its craziness and confusion; and AI law, which may be years away from coalescing into coherence.

From Los Angeles Times

But now, with Trump not just winning the presidential election but dominating it, the original shame and confusion of the 2020 Trump prophecies have been wiped away.

From Slate

Conscious of the confusion around approaches to retrofit, some organisations are moving to improve the advice available to homeowners.

From BBC

Challenges have also been raised, including some visitors mistakenly believing the Welsh names are new, leading to "some resistance and confusion".

From BBC

Related Words

• anarchy
• chaos
• complexity
• complication
• consternation
• difficulty
• disarray
• dislocation
• distraction
• mistake
• trouble
• turmoil
• upheaval