confusion

noun

con·​fu·​sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce confusion (audio)
1
: an act or instance of confusing
confusion of the issue
2
a
: the quality or state of being confused
Try to relieve their confusion.
mental confusion
b
: a confused mass or mixture
a confusion of voices
confusional
kən-ˈfyüzh-nəl How to pronounce confusion (audio)
-ˈfyü-zhə-nᵊl
adjective

Examples of confusion in a Sentence

There is still some confusion as to the time of the meeting. There is a great deal of confusion about how the system works. the anxieties and confusions of teenage life He stared in confusion and disbelief. There was total confusion when the truck hit the restaurant.
Recent Examples on the Web Nearly anyone can use it to sow chaos and confusion. Tobi Raji, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 In recent years, the huge and unprecedented surge in teenage girls with no prior history of gender confusion suggests social contagion as a likely factor. The Editors, National Review, 14 Mar. 2024 Writer Cooper Lund pointed out on BlueSky that this kind of confusion could be a recipe for disaster if foreign tourists show up to the U.S. expecting to see some of these fantastical scenes that were generated by AI. Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The majority's decision to do so will upset the status quo of election administration mere months before a presidential election and lead to chaos and confusion for Wisconsin voters and election officials. Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 After a brief pause -- and some confusion from the audience -- the Dolby Theatre broke out in applause for Oppenheimer. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 But as enthusiasm for bitcoin spreads anew, so do myths and confusion around the forces moving the price. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 12 Mar. 2024 Royals under mounting pressure The family traditionally releases a family photo on Mother’s Day, but this year’s image came amid a backdrop of intrigue and confusion over Kate’s extended absence following her January operation. Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 To repeat our position stated above, so there is no confusion: The Cougars will play to win, should play to win and must play to win. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confusion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confusioun "ruin, disgrace, disorder," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French confusiun, borrowed from Latin confūsiōn-, confūsiō "mixing, combining, disorder, consternation," from confud-, variant stem of confundere "to pour together, blend, bring into disorder, destroy, disconcert" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at confound

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of confusion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near confusion

Cite this Entry

“Confusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confusion. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

confusion

noun
con·​fu·​sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce confusion (audio)
1
: an act or instance of confusing
2
: the quality or state of being confused
her confusion was obvious

Medical Definition

confusion

noun
con·​fu·​sion kən-ˈfyü-zhən How to pronounce confusion (audio)
: disturbance of consciousness characterized by inability to engage in orderly thought or by lack of power to distinguish, choose, or act decisively
confusional adjective

Legal Definition

confusion

noun
con·​fu·​sion
1
in the civil law of Louisiana : a uniting of two interests or rights in property into one compare merger sense 1
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : the termination of an obligation by a person acquiring the right from which the obligation arose
3
: the mixing or blending together of goods or commodities so that the individual owners cannot identify their own property

called also confusion of goods

More from Merriam-Webster on confusion

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