maze

American  

[meyz] / meɪz /

noun

1. a confusing network of intercommunicating paths or passages; labyrinth.

2. any complex system or arrangement that causes bewilderment, confusion, or perplexity.

   Her petition was lost in a maze of bureaucratic red tape.

3. a state of bewilderment or confusion.

4. a winding movement, as in dancing.

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verb (used with object)

mazed, mazing

1. Chiefly Dialect. to daze, perplex, or stupefy.

maze British  

/ meɪz /

noun

1. a complex network of paths or passages, esp one with high hedges in a garden, designed to puzzle those walking through it Compare labyrinth

2. a similar system represented diagrammatically as a pattern of lines

3. any confusing network of streets, pathways, etc

   a maze of paths

4. a state of confusion

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verb

1. an archaic or dialect word for amaze

Other Word Forms

• intermaze verb (used with object)
• mazedly adverb
• mazedness noun
• mazelike adjective
• mazement noun

Etymology

Origin of maze

1250–1300; Middle English mase, noun use of aphetic variant of amasen to amaze

Example Sentences

Cain, in which the doctrinal maze is itself the story.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

They can only get there via a tour, navigating a maze of narrow alleyways as residents go about their daily lives while stopping to visit local artists or see a capoeira show.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

On Thursday morning, over 100 artists, gallerists and collectors representing 24 countries wafted into the maze that is Frieze at the Santa Monica Airport and transformed the space into a winding runway.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

But this trip - the prince's first to Saudi - is something of a diplomatic maze.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

When she forced the door open, she expected to find herself back at the end of the maze of hallways.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny