# confusion

> English word · Noun · IPA /kənˈfjuːʒən/ · frequency rank #5,204

## Definitions
1. A lack of clarity or order.
2. The state of being confused; misunderstanding.
3. The act of mistaking one thing for another or conflating distinct things.
4. Lack of understanding due to dementia.
5. A state of shame or embarrassment.
6. A group of wildebeest.

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

## Easily confused with
- **confusing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/confusing-vs-confusion)
- **collusion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/collusion-vs-confusion)
- **Confucian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/confucian-vs-confusion)
- **conclusion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/conclusion-vs-confusion)
- **confession** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/confession-vs-confusion)
- **concussion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/concussion-vs-confusion)

## Common misspellings (14)
`cconfusion`, `cnofusion`, `cofnusion`, `conffusion`, `confsuion`, `confuison`, `confusino`, `confusionn`, `confusoin`, `confussion`, `confution`, `connfusion`, `conufsion`, `ocnfusion`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/confusion