VOOZH about

URL: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraction

⇱ DISTRACTION Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster


1
: something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else
turned off her phone to limit distractions
One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.
especially : amusement
a harmless distraction
a book of word puzzles and other distractions
2
: the act of distracting or the state of being distracted
especially : mental confusion
driven to distraction by their endless chatter

Examples of distraction in a Sentence

It was hard to work with so many distractions. One of them created a distraction while the other grabbed the money. A weekend at the beach was a good distraction from her troubles. Their endless chatter drove her to distraction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is a accident-prone day, perhaps because unexpected events will catch some people off guard, creating distractions that are hard to deal with. 👁 Image
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
No more climate change worship, no more division, distraction, or gender delusions. 👁 Image
Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Instead, distractions become a point of inspiration, an almost necessary salve to make it through each day. 👁 Image
Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
No distractions April is the month that local police put a spotlight on distracted driving. 👁 Image
Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distraction

Word History

Etymology

Middle English distraccioun "state of being distracted, diversion of mind," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French distraccion "inattentiveness," borrowed from Late Latin distractiōn-, distractiō "diversion of mind," going back to Latin, "action of tearing apart," from distrac-, variant stem of distrahere "to pull apart, break up, separate, draw (a person's mind) in contrary directions" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at distract entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of distraction was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraction. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

distraction

noun
1
: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted
especially : mental confusion
2
a
: something that makes it hard to pay attention

Medical Definition

distraction

noun
1
a
: diversion of the attention
b
: mental confusion
2
: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments

More from Merriam-Webster on distraction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Merriam-Webster unabridged

More from Merriam-Webster