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 But the Times said that confusion grew when Kensington Palace declined to confirm whether Kate would be well enough to attend the June 8 event. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Until then, managing the expenses and confusion of television is our burden alone. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024 During oral arguments, the court’s liberal justices had voiced concerns similar to those of the conservative majority that allowing one state to disqualify a national candidate would be a recipe for disorder and confusion. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Their goal is to eliminate the stress, confusion and frustration that selling a home creates. Kc Property Group, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 Pre-flight checks with battery electric aircraft don’t need to keep the propellor turning, something that is causing confusion on small airfields the first few times electric aircraft fly there. Michael Barnard, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 It’s known to produce feelings of euphoria, with other common side effects including sedation, confusion and dry mouth. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 This design feature can help save kid and pet toys that get left on the floor while helping avoid confusion for your robot vacuum. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 On Milton Friedman, confusion about Confederates, praise for National Review, and more All Our Opinion in Your Inbox NR Daily is delivered right to you every afternoon. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 27 Feb. 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 19 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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