Meaning & Definition of word "Perplexity"

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    Perplexity

    /pərˈplɛksɪti/

    noun:

    • 1. the state of being perplexed; confusion or uncertainty.
      • Example: The complexity of the problem led to a profound sense of perplexity among the team members.
    • 2. a situation that is confusing or difficult to understand.
      • Example: Her sudden change of plans added to his perplexity about the situation.
    • 3. a measure of how predictable or understandable a dataset or probability distribution is.
      • Example: The perplexity of the language model indicates how well it can predict the next word in a sentence.

    Etymology

    From Latin perplexitas, from perplectere, meaning 'to entangle'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    in a state of perplexity:

    experiencing confusion or uncertainty.

    perplexity of choices:

    the complicated nature of selecting among various options.

    to add to one's perplexity:

    to further complicate a confusing situation.

    Related Words

    perplex:

    to confuse or bewilder.

    confound:

    to cause surprise or confusion in someone.

    bewilder:

    to cause someone to become perplexed and confused.

    Slang Meanings of perplexity

    Meaning: brain freeze

    Example Sentence: He had a brain freeze trying to understand that math problem.

    Meaning: mind-boggle

    Example Sentence: The plot twist was such a mind-boggle that it left everyone speechless.