confusion

B1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /kənˈfjuːʒən/ See IPA manual

Freq #5467

Meanings

1

noun
A state of not understanding clearly or not knowing what to do.

Trump's offer was met with confusion in many offices.
2

noun
A situation in which one thing is mistaken for another.

I changed my name to avoid confusion with the famous criminal.
3

noun
A messy or disordered situation in which things happen unpredictably.

The army retreated in confusion as the enemy advanced.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a state of not... bewilderment

2 noun · a situation in which one... mix-up

3 noun · a messy or disordered... disarray

More bafflementbemusementflabbergast flabbergastationflabbergastmentmisunderstanding muddlenoncomputationquagmire

Opposites

clarity distinction

Word family

Forms confusions

Derived forms compfusionconfusionalconfusionismconfusionistdeconfusion

Related forms commotion confuse confusing disorder

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

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

confusioun Middle English confusion Old French confusio Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# confusion

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈfjuːʒən/
**Frequency rank:** 5467

## Meanings
1. A state of not understanding clearly or not knowing what to do.
2. A situation in which one thing is mistaken for another.
3. A messy or disordered situation in which things happen unpredictably.

## Examples
- Trump's offer was met with confusion in many offices.
- I changed my name to avoid confusion with the famous criminal.
- The army retreated in confusion as the enemy advanced.

## Synonyms
- bafflement
- bemusement
- flabbergast
- flabbergastation
- flabbergastment
- misunderstanding
- mix-up
- muddle
- noncomputation
- quagmire

## Antonyms
- clarity
- distinction

## Derived Forms
- compfusion
- confusional
- confusionism
- confusionist
- deconfusion

## Related Forms
- commotion
- confuse
- confusing
- disorder

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: confusioun
- Root: confusion
- Root: confusio
- Affix: -sion - act

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

## AI Etymology
confusion is a noun. It is from Middle English confusioun, from Old French confusion, from Latin confusio, confusionem. Morphologically confuse + -ion. Historical forms in the chain include confusioun (Middle English), confusion (Old French), and confusio (Latin). Current senses include a state of not understanding clearly or not knowing what to do, a situation in which one thing is mistaken for another, and a messy or disordered situation in which things happen unpredictably. Derived forms include compfusion, confusional, confusionism, confusionist, and deconfusion. Related words include commotion, confuse, confusing, and disorder.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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