confusion

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈfjuːʒ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1uncertainty about what is happening, intended, or required: there seems to be some confusion about which system does what he cleared up the confusion over the party’s policy
  • a situation of panic or disorder: the guaranteed income bond market was thrown into confusion
  • [in singular] a disorderly jumble: all I can see is a confusion of brown cardboard boxes
  • 2the state of being bewildered or unclear in one’s mind about something: she looked about her in confusion
  • the mistaking of one person or thing for another: there is some confusion between ‘unlawful’ and ‘illegal’ [count noun]: most of the errors are reasonable confusions between similar words

Origin:

Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere 'mingle together' (see confuse)