kerfuffle

American  

[ker-fuhf-uhl] / kərˈfʌf əl /

noun

1. Informal. a fuss; commotion.

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kerfuffle British  

/ kəˈfʌfəl /

noun

1. informal commotion; disorder; agitation

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verb

1. (tr) to put into disorder or disarray; ruffle or disarrange

Etymology

Origin of kerfuffle

First recorded in 1945–50; from Scots curfuffle, from cur- (from Scottish Gaelic car “a turn,” from Old Irish cor ) + fuffle “to disorder, confuse” (of imitative origin)

Explanation

A kerfuffle is some kind of commotion, controversy, or fuss. If you read about a scandal in a newspaper, it could be described as a kerfuffle. Kerfuffle is a humorous-sounding word for a mostly non-humorous situation: some kind of disturbance, scandal or mess. However, a kerfuffle usually isn't 100% serious. People talking loudly in public could be making a kerfuffle. If a politician says something embarrassing by accident, it could cause a kerfuffle. Often, people use this word when they think people are making too big a deal of something, as in "What's the kerfuffle all about?"

Example Sentences

These controversies might look like a mild kerfuffle if the chip makers’ shares keep falling back to earth.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Carr said the review stemmed from a probe into whether the network’s diversity programs were discriminatory and that they had had nothing to do with the latest Kimmel kerfuffle.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

I’m a part of the problem, too, yapping about this silly kerfuffle six months out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The culinary kerfuffle was unusual for Mexico, which boasts a world-renowned cuisine that includes dozens of varieties of breads and pastries, both savory and sweet.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

He pauses, and there’s a kerfuffle in the darkness back there, and I wonder if he has some physical strategy for checking the fullness of his bladder.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Related Words

• commotion
• disorder
• disruption
• disturbance