noun
Uncommon
maze
MAYZ
Maze (noun) means a complicated network of paths or passages designed to confuse and challenge anyone trying to find their way through it. Example: “The kids got lost in the hedge maze for almost an hour.”
noun
1
A complicated network of paths or passages designed to confuse and challenge anyone trying to find their way through it.
"The kids got lost in the hedge maze for almost an hour."
"The old castle's cellars formed a maze of narrow, twisting corridors."
"The puzzle book had a maze on every page, and she solved them all."
2
A confusing collection of rules, options, or paths that is hard to make sense of.
"Filing taxes felt like navigating a maze of forms and deadlines."
"New parents often get lost in a maze of advice from friends and relatives."
"The phone company's maze of menus made it hard to find a real person."
How to use maze
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA puzzle of paths (real or figurative) that's tricky to find your way through.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "maize" (corn) — they sound alike but are unrelated words.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a maze of corridors
lost in a maze
navigate a maze
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Word forms
- Plural
- mazes
- Third person singular
- mazes
- Past tense
- mazed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids got lost in the hedge _____ for almost an hour.
Etymology
From Middle English mase, related to an Old English word for bewilderment — the same root gave us "amaze".
Related words
Rhymes for maze
See all rhymes for maze →Frequently asked questions
What does “maze” mean?
The word “maze” means a complicated network of paths or passages designed to confuse and challenge anyone trying to find their way through it. In plain terms, a puzzle of paths (real or figurative) that's tricky to find your way through.
How do you pronounce “maze”?
“Maze” is pronounced MAYZ (/ˈmeɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “maze” in a sentence?
Here is “maze” used in a sentence: “The kids got lost in the hedge maze for almost an hour.”
What part of speech is “maze”?
“Maze” is a noun.
Where does the word “maze” come from?
The word “maze” comes from Old English. From Middle English mase, related to an Old English word for bewilderment — the same root gave us "amaze".
Is “maze” a common word?
“Maze” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “maze” have?
“Maze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a complicated network of paths or passages designed to confuse and challenge anyone trying to find their way through it.
What is the difference between a maze and a labyrinth?
In everyday use, a maze is a network of paths deliberately designed with dead ends and multiple routes to confuse the person navigating it, while a labyrinth is traditionally a single winding path with no wrong turns, meant for a meditative walk rather than a puzzle. The words are often used interchangeably in casual speech, but the distinction matters in garden design and mythology.
What does it mean to describe something as "a maze of regulations"?
This is a figurative use of maze, applying the idea of a confusing network of paths to a confusing collection of rules or bureaucratic requirements. It suggests the rules are hard to follow and easy to get lost in, just like a physical maze.
Can maze refer to something other than a physical structure?
Yes, maze commonly extends beyond hedges and puzzles to describe any confusing set of options, procedures, or paths, such as a maze of corridors, forms, or choices. The core idea in every case is difficulty finding a clear way through.
