conflation
noun
con·fla·tion
kən-ˈflā-shən 
plural conflations
: the action or result of conflating:
a(1)
(2)
: confusion
The conflation of lie and lay is an old problem and, admittedly, an understandable one.—
Cullen Murphy
Cullen MurphyClearly the dominant American culture confuses us Mennonites with the Amish, who in fact began as an insurgent faction rebelling from the Mennonites. America's conflation is reasonable, since the Mennonites and the Amish have historically overlapped in many lifestyle choices.—Rhoda Janzen
Rhoda Janzen
b
: a composite reading or text
But this book is not simply a conflation of old dispatches from one of the world's forgotten trouble spots.—William Boyd
William BoydExamples of conflation in a Sentence
the word “robustious” is probably a conflation of “robust” and “boisterous”
Recent Examples on the Web
The president’s bigger blunder, though, is the conflation of economic trade relations with international military conflict—that is, blending his protectionist tariff tactics with the Russian wartime sanctions program.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
The conflation of the party and the state in diplomatic and international security matters is, in part, a function of the ANC’s need to conduct its own foreign policy before South Africa became democratic.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
The Difference Between Value and Price A common misstep in the discourse about health data is the conflation of value and price.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
This conflation and connection between Black girls (gender expansive), friendship, and queerness became my fixation.
—M. Mick Powell
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflation
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Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
The conflation of the party and the state in diplomatic and international security matters is, in part, a function of the ANC’s need to conduct its own foreign policy before South Africa became democratic.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
The Difference Between Value and Price A common misstep in the discourse about health data is the conflation of value and price.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
This conflation and connection between Black girls (gender expansive), friendship, and queerness became my fixation.
—M. Mick Powell
august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflation
Cite this Entry
“Conflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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