confusion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another

   I changed my name in order to avoid confusion with the notorious outlaw.

2. 2
   noun

   an act causing a disorderly combination of elements with identities lost and distinctions blended

   the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel

3. 3
   noun

   a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior

   a confusion of impressions

4. 4
   noun

   disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

   the army retreated in confusion

5. 5
   noun

   A lack of clarity or order.

   But much of the federal workforce is located outside the nation’s capital, and Trump’s offer was met with confusion and skepticism in many of those offices.

6. 6
   noun

   The state of being confused; misunderstanding.

   Forgive these wild and wandering cries, ⁠Confusions of a wasted youth; ⁠Forgive them where they fail in truth, And in thy wisdom make me wise.

7. 7
   noun

   The act of mistaking one thing for another or conflating distinct things.

   Now (exc. in Nautical language, see b) it is only dialectal or an illiterate substitute for lie, its identity of form with the past tense of the latter no doubt accounting largely for the confusion.

8. 8
   noun

   A state of shame or embarrassment.

   Lady Bellaston fixed her eyes on Sophia whilst she spoke these words. To which that poor young lady, having her face overspread with blushes and confusion, answered, in a stammering voice […]

Etymology

From Middle English confusioun, from Old French confusion, from Latin confusio, confusionem. Morphologically confuse + -ion.