confusion

noun con·fu·sion \kən-ˈfyü-zhən\

: a situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly

: the feeling that you have when you do not understand what is happening, what is expected, etc.

: a state or situation in which many things are happening in a way that is not controlled or orderly

Full Definition of CONFUSION

: an act or instance of confusing <confusion of the issue>

a : the quality or state of being confused <try to relieve their confusion>

b : a confused mass or mixture <a confusion of voices>

— con·fu·sion·al \-ˈfyüzh-nəl, -ˈfyü-zhə-n^əl\ adjective

See confusion defined for English-language learners

See confusion defined for kids

First Known Use of CONFUSION

14th century

Related to CONFUSION

Synonyms: bafflement, bamboozlement, befuddlement, bemusement, bewilderedness, bewilderment, confusedness, discombobulation, distraction, fog, head-scratching, maze [chiefly dialect], muddle, mystification, perplexity, puzzlement, tangle, whirl

Antonyms: order, orderliness

Rhymes with CONFUSION

affusion, allusion, Carthusian, collusion, conclusion, contusion, delusion, diffusion, effusion, elusion, exclusion, extrusion, illusion, inclusion, infusion, intrusion, Malthusian, obtrusion, occlusion, perfusion, prelusion, profusion, prolusion, protrusion, reclusion, seclusion, transfusion, Venusian

CONFUSION Defined for Kids

confusion

noun con·fu·sion \kən-ˈfyü-zhən\

Definition of CONFUSION for Kids

: difficulty in understanding or in being able to tell one thing from a similar thing

: a feeling or state of uncertainty

Word Root of CONFUSION

The Latin word fundere, meaning “to pour,” and its form fūsus give us the roots fund and fus. Words from the Latin fundere have something to do with pouring. To refund is to pour someone's money back to her or him. Confusion exists when too many things are poured together so that they become uncertain and unclear. A profusion is a great quantity that seems to have been poured forth from a plentiful supply.

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