Confusion Meaning
/kənˈfjuːʒən/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA lack of clarity or order.
nounThe state of being confused; misunderstanding.
Sentence Examples
Only after a century and a half of confusion was the royal authority restored.
His confusion betrayed his lie.
The announcement caused a lot of confusion.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
A sudden loud noise caused widespread ____ among the crowd.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sudden change in the train schedule caused mass ____ among the daily commuters.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English confusioun, from Old French confusion, from Latin confusio, confusionem. Morphologically confuse + -ion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2025 February 1, Tami Luhby, Eric Bradner and Rene Marsh, “Federal employees confused, angered by Trump’s offer to quit”, in CNN:
"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."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
"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."
— 1908, “lay v.¹”, in James A. H. Murray et al., editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VI, Part 1, London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 128:
"Confusion of sex and gender continues when she begins to address what the sex-change operation achieves."
— 1996, Frank William Lewins, Bioethics for Health Professionals, page 128:
"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 […]"
— 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A sudden loud noise caused widespread ____ among the crowd.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sudden change in the train schedule caused mass ____ among the daily commuters.