distraction
Americannoun
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the act of distracting.
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the state of being distracted. distracted.
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mental distress or derangement.
That child will drive me to distraction.
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that which distracts, divides the attention, or prevents concentration.
The distractions of the city interfere with my studies.
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that which amuses, entertains, or diverts; amusement; entertainment.
Fishing is his major distraction.
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division or disorder caused by dissension; tumult.
noun
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the act or an instance of distracting or the state of being distracted
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something that serves as a diversion or entertainment
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an interruption; an obstacle to concentration
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mental turmoil or madness
Etymology
Origin of distraction
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin distractiōn-, stem of distractiō “separation”; equivalent to distract + -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, a strange, viral Facebook post in 2025 caused a distraction.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
“It’s a great distraction from the high cost of meals,” Spiegel said.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
Wales' shot at World Cup qualification arrives as a welcome distraction from Forest's fight against relegation for Williams.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
"I would caution pointing fingers at controllers and saying distraction was involved," Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026
“Even if he’s just purely a distraction, I just need...I dunno, something good to happen.”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
