perplexity
noun/pəˈpleksəti/
/pərˈpleksəti/
(plural perplexities)
(formal)- [uncountable] the state of feeling confused and worried because you do not understand something synonym confusion
- His comments have been the source of much perplexity and debate.
- in perplexity Most of them just stared at her in perplexity.
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- [countable, usually plural] something that is difficult to understand
- the perplexities of life
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French perplexite or late Latin perplexitas, from Latin perplexus ‘entangled, confused’, based on plexus ‘interwoven’, from the verb plectere.
Check pronunciation:
perplexity