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Synonyms

conflation

American  
[kuhn-fley-shuhn] / kənˈfleɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the process or result of fusing items into one entity; fusion; amalgamation.

  2. Bibliography.

    1. the combination of two variant texts into a new one.

    2. the text resulting from such a combination.


Etymology

Origin of conflation

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Late Latin word conflātiō. See conflate, -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.

“Wuthering Heights” knew what it was about, and Brontë, despite her lack of firsthand experience in love, had the scripts of normative femininity dead to rights with the book’s relentless conflation of love and torment.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

A dreamy conflation of 1970s soft rock and 80s new wave hooks, it was heralded by the smash hit As It Was, and was showered with awards.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

His professional unease is echoed by the novel’s gently surreal bending of time and space and its metaphorical conflation of life and film.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2025

It is unclear why the original conflation came about, but to state the obvious, it is possible to support Palestine without supporting Hamas.

From Slate • Feb. 6, 2024

It is impossible to “conflate” in places where Bא and their associates furnish no materials for the supposed conflation.

From The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels by Burgon, John William