confusion
kuhn-FYOO-zhuhn
Confusion (noun) means a state of not understanding what is happening; a lack of clarity. Example: “The new road layout caused so much confusion that several drivers turned the wrong way.”
noun
1
A state of not understanding what is happening; a lack of clarity.
"The new road layout caused so much confusion that several drivers turned the wrong way."
"I could see the confusion on her face as the teacher explained the rules again."
"There was some confusion over who was supposed to pick up the kids."
2
The mistaking of one thing for another.
"Mixing up the twins' names was a common confusion among their classmates."
"There is often confusion between the words affect and effect in student essays."
"To avoid confusion, the two products were given very different packaging."
3
Disorientation, especially as a symptom in illness such as dementia.
"After the fall, the old man spoke with confusion and could not say where he was."
"Sudden confusion is a sign that a patient may need urgent medical attention."
"The nurse noted the patient's confusion after the anaesthetic wore off."
How to use confusion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state of being muddled, whether that's not understanding something or mixing two things up.
Common pairings
cause confusion
avoid confusion
a state of confusion
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Word forms
- Plural
- confusions
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The new road layout caused so much _____ that several drivers turned the wrong way.
Etymology
Came into English via Middle English confusioun, which came from Old French confusion, from Latin confusio, confusionem. In form, it is confuse + -ion.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for confusion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for confusion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “confusion” mean?
The word “confusion” means a state of not understanding what is happening; a lack of clarity. In plain terms, the state of being muddled, whether that's not understanding something or mixing two things up.
How do you pronounce “confusion”?
“Confusion” is pronounced kuhn-FYOO-zhuhn (/kənˈfjuːʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “confusion” in a sentence?
Here is “confusion” used in a sentence: “There was some confusion over who was supposed to pick up the kids.”
What is another word for “confusion”?
Words with a similar meaning to “confusion” include bafflement, befuddlement, bemusement, flabbergast, flabbergastation and flabbergastment.
What is the opposite of “confusion”?
The opposite of “confusion” — its antonyms — are clarity and distinction.
What part of speech is “confusion”?
“Confusion” is a noun.
Is “confusion” a common word?
“Confusion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “confusion” have?
“Confusion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of not understanding what is happening; a lack of clarity.
What is the difference between confusion and chaos?
Confusion is a mental state of not understanding what is happening or lacking clarity. Chaos describes complete disorder in an actual situation or environment, so confusion is what people feel while chaos is what a scene looks like.
What is the difference between confusion and disorientation?
Disorientation specifically means losing your sense of direction, place, or time. Confusion is broader and covers any lack of understanding or clarity, so disorientation is one particular kind of confusion.
What preposition follows confusion?
You typically say confusion 'about' or 'over' something, as in 'confusion about the rules.' When two things are being mixed up, you use 'confusion between,' as in 'confusion between the two words.'
What is the difference between confusion and ambiguity?
Ambiguity is a quality of a message or situation that allows more than one interpretation. Confusion is the resulting mental state in the person trying to understand it, so ambiguity in the wording can cause confusion in the reader.
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