confection

American  

[kuhn-fek-shuhn] / kənˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

• confections
  plural

1. a sweet preparation of fruit or the like, as a preserve or candy.

2. the process of compounding, preparing, or making something.

3. a frivolous, amusing, or contrived play, book, or other artistic or literary work.

4. something made up or confected; a concoction.

   He said the charges were a confection of the local police.

5. something, as a garment or decorative object, that is very delicate, elaborate, or luxurious and usually nonutilitarian.

6. Pharmacology. a medicated preparation made with the aid of sugar, honey, syrup, or the like.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to prepare as a confection.

confection British  

/ kənˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of compounding or mixing

2. any sweet preparation of fruit, nuts, etc, such as a preserve or a sweet

3. old-fashioned an elaborate article of clothing, esp for women

4. informal anything regarded as overelaborate or frivolous

   the play was merely an ingenious confection

5. a medicinal drug sweetened with sugar, honey, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• confections
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of confection

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English confeccioun, from Latin confectiōn- (stem of confectiō ) “preparation, conclusion, completion”; see origin at confect, -ion

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Explanation

A confection is a food loaded with sugar. Chocolate layer cake, strawberry lollipops, and vanilla bonbons are all confections. Yum! Do you have a sweet tooth? Then you love confections, which are sweet treats such as cakes and candies and all manner of food that’s full of sugary deliciousness. The candy aisle is loaded with confections. Bakeries sell confections too, like cupcakes. A confection is almost always a delicious dessert. Just make sure you eat your vegetables before you eat any confections!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

confection confections

“Whatever it is, it’s very healthy,” he says when I ask what sort of confection he chose.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

But there’s one confection I’ve pined for, one tied to the memory of my mother.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

Anna Wintour, the Global Editorial Director of Vogue magazine, wore a feathery custom Chanel confection to her signature event.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

In sugar confection, products like gummy clusters have gained traction, while in salty snacks, better-for-you ingredients are fueling growth.

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

Her hat was an enchanting confection of plumes and gossamer silk, dyed to match her dress.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Sedaka himself became a star through such bright confections as “Calendar Girl,” “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” the 1962 chart-topper that became his signature song.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

As an executive at Hershey, it’s Rinaldi’s duty to know important dates years in advance to understand how it could affect the company’s ability to sell chocolates, sweets and sugary confections.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

“Sèvres Extraordinaire!” approaches its subject—pioneering, astonishing ceramic confections that are neither purely functional nor purely decorative but sui generis art, or “sculpture”—in the broadest sense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025

The aroma of their cookie-like confections draws you in and pulls you right through the door.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2024

In the autumn of 1971 a man used to come to our house, bearing confections in his pocket and hopes of ascertaining the life or death of his family.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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Related Words

• cake
• candy
• pastry

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