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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bill would directly conflict with federal law, opening the door for homeowners to face confusion regarding what is permitted. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025 However, since the start of 2025, there has been confusion among many in college mental health about how to comply with the intentions of the federal government. Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 The cafe shared their confusion about why Wyatt was not getting the same love as the kittens in the caption. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025 Longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove is arguing that President Trump is exhausting many Americans with his various moves on tariffs, causing confusion and concern that could boomerang on Trump. Jared Gans, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confusion

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

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Cite this Entry

“Confusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confusion. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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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