{
    "term": "confusion",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a state of not being certain about what is happening, what you should do, what something means, etc.",
            "sensetop": "confusion about/over somethingconfusion as to something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The announcement caused a lot of confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is some confusion about what the correct procedure should be.",
                    "contextForm": "confusion about/over something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a confusion as to what to do next.",
                    "contextForm": "confusion as to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The announcement caused a lot of confusion among the students."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government needs to clear up the confusion surrounding its policy on water."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There has been considerable confusion regarding the facts of her death."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a few key tips to help you avoid any confusion"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is widespread confusion about the government's health policy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "confusion as to the whereabouts of the man"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "total", "utter"],
                "verb + confusion": ["avoid", "prevent", "cause"],
                "confusion + verb": ["arise", "reign", "surround something"],
                "preposition": [
                    "in (the) confusion",
                    "confusion about",
                    "confusion over"
                ],
                "phrases": [
                    "a scene of confusion",
                    "a state of confusion",
                    "to avoid confusion"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the fact of making a mistake about who somebody is or what something is",
            "sensetop": "confusion between A and B",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "To avoid confusion, please write the children's names clearly on all their school clothes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "confusion between letters of the alphabet like ‘o’ or ‘a’",
                    "contextForm": "confusion between A and B"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I kept my own last name when I got married to prevent confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are very hard to tell apart, so the confusion is understandable."
                },
                {
                    "text": "To avoid confusion, label each box clearly."
                },
                {
                    "text": "medication labels that minimize confusion"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the confusion of this book with her last one"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "total", "utter"],
                "verb + confusion": ["avoid", "prevent", "cause"],
                "confusion + verb": ["arise", "reign", "surround something"],
                "preposition": [
                    "in (the) confusion",
                    "confusion about",
                    "confusion over"
                ],
                "phrases": [
                    "a scene of confusion",
                    "a state of confusion",
                    "to avoid confusion"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a situation in which you feel embarrassed because you do not understand something and are not sure what to do",
            "sensetop": "in confusion",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He looked at me in confusion and did not answer the question.",
                    "contextForm": "in confusion"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sacha felt confusion sweeping over her as she read the letter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She stared at them both in utter confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could sense her confusion and frustration."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His expression was one of pure confusion."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "total", "utter"],
                "verb + confusion": ["avoid", "prevent", "cause"],
                "confusion + verb": ["arise", "reign", "surround something"],
                "preposition": [
                    "in (the) confusion",
                    "confusion about",
                    "confusion over"
                ],
                "phrases": [
                    "a scene of confusion",
                    "a state of confusion",
                    "to avoid confusion"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a confused situation in which people do not know what action to take",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Fighting had broken out and all was chaos and confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His cross caused confusion in the penalty box."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The protesters set off smoke bombs to create confusion and panic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She managed to escape in the confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This latest decision has only added to the general confusion."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The local council has been thrown into total confusion by her resignation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In the confusion that followed, she managed to slip away unnoticed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Confusion reigned when the two managers gave conflicting instructions."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["complete", "total", "utter"],
                "verb + confusion": ["avoid", "prevent", "cause"],
                "confusion + verb": ["arise", "reign", "surround something"],
                "preposition": [
                    "in (the) confusion",
                    "confusion about",
                    "confusion over"
                ],
                "phrases": [
                    "a scene of confusion",
                    "a state of confusion",
                    "to avoid confusion"
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kənˈfjuːʒn/",
                "audio": "xc/confusion/xconfusion__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kənˈfjuːʒn/",
                "audio": "xc/confusion/xconfusion__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere ‘mingle together’."
}