Confusion

/kənˈfjuːʒən/

Meaning & Definition

noun
a lack of understanding or uncertainty about something.
There was a great deal of confusion over the new policy changes.
the state of being mixed up or unclear.
His explanation added to the confusion rather than clarifying the situation.
a feeling of disorder or chaos.
The sudden fire drill caused confusion among the students.
a state of mental disarray or bewilderment.
After the long meeting, she was left in a state of confusion about her responsibilities.

Etymology

from Latin 'confusio', meaning 'mixing together', from 'confundere' meaning 'to pour together'

Common Phrases and Expressions

state of confusion
a situation where nothing is clear and there is misunderstanding
confusion of tongues
a situation in which people do not understand each other due to language differences
throw into confusion
to cause someone to be bewildered or to disrupt normal understanding

Related Words

bewilderment
a state of being perplexed and confused
perplexity
the state of being confused or puzzled
disarray
a lack of order or a mess
ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation

Slang Meanings

brain fog
I have such brain fog right now, I can't think straight.
mixed signals
He keeps giving me mixed signals, and it's causing confusion.