conflate

[ kuhn-fleyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·flat·ed, con·flat·ing.

1. to fuse into one entity; merge:

   to conflate dissenting voices into one protest.

conflate

/ kənˈfleɪt /

verb

1. tr to combine or blend (two things, esp two versions of a text) so as to form a whole

Derived Forms

• conˈflation, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflate¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin conflātus “fused together,” past participle of conflāre “to fuse together,” from con- con- + flāre “to blow” ( blow ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of conflate¹

C16: from Latin conflāre to blow together, from flāre to blow

Example Sentences

The Fairness Doctrine has often been conflated with the “equal time” rule for political candidates.

From Washington Post

Video game-related media has conflated the people buying GameStop stock with gamers.

From Washington Post

In a technology-driven world, people tend to conflate adaptability with technological change, especially when it comes to navigating adverse climates and places.

From Quartz

Gersberg, the microbiologist at SDSU, warned not to conflate sewage with toxic industrial chemicals.

From Voice of San Diego

According to Shoebridge, Australia’s future approach to trade with China will seek to conflate economic and political goals into a single policy, rather than treating them as separate tracks.

From Fortune

With Entourage and Vincent Chase, do you feel like audiences and producers tend to conflate you with the character?

From The Daily Beast

I still conflate safer sex with respect for the gay community and the lessons we learned from the AIDS crisis.

From The Daily Beast

Now it looks as if the Israeli strategy of trying to get us to conflate the issues has gained traction.

From The Daily Beast

Christie will need to assure the party about his own integrity, and his tendency to conflate government with his own self.

From The Daily Beast

And I think [Gould] was guilty of using a poetic language to conflate those three kinds of episodic changes.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• amalgamate
• consolidate
• converge
• fuse
• meld
• unify
• unite