confusion

American  

[kuhn-fyoo-zhuhn] / kənˈfyu ʒən /

noun

1. the act of confusing.

2. the state of being confused.

   Synonyms:

   distraction

3. disorder; upheaval; tumult; chaos.

   The army retreated in confusion.

   Synonyms:

   disarray, mess, jumble, turmoil

4. lack of clearness or distinctness.

   a confusion in his mind between right and wrong.

5. perplexity; bewilderment.

   The more difficult questions left us in complete confusion.

6. embarrassment or abashment.

   He blushed in confusion.

   Synonyms:

   mortification, shame

7. Psychiatry. a disturbed mental state; disorientation.

8. Archaic. defeat, overthrow, or ruin.

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confusion British  

/ kənˈfjuːʒən /

noun

1. the act of confusing or the state of being confused

2. disorder; jumble

3. bewilderment; perplexity

4. lack of clarity; indistinctness

5. embarrassment; abashment

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superconfusion
  noun
• reconfusion
  noun
• confusional
  adjective
• preconfusion
  noun

Etymology

Origin of confusion

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin confūsiōn-, stem of confūsiō “disorder, mixture,” literally “a mixing,” from confūs(us) “mixed” (past participle of cōnfundere; see confound) + -iō -ion

Explanation

If things are a little hazy and you're not quite sure what's going on, you're in a state of confusion. Confusion involves disorder, whether it's mixed up thoughts or plain old chaos. If everyone is screaming and running around, there's a lot of confusion. If you don't understand a math problem, you could be in a state of confusion. Mixing up two people who look alike is another type of confusion. If someone wants to make something very clear, they might say, "Let me clear up any confusion."

Related Words

• anarchy
• chaos
• complexity
• complication
• consternation
• difficulty
• disarray
• dislocation
• distraction
• mistake
• trouble
• turmoil
• upheaval