confection

noun

con·​fec·​tion kən-ˈfek-shən 

1

: the act or process of confecting

2

: something confected: such as

a

: a fancy dish or sweetmeat

also : a sweet food

b

: a medicinal preparation usually made with sugar, syrup, or honey

c

: a work of fine or elaborate craftsmanship

d

: a light but entertaining theatrical, cinematic, or literary work

Did you know?

As a wise blue monster with a famous sweet tooth once noted, “c” is for cookie. And sure, that’s good enough for us, but sometimes the moment calls for a wide variety of delectables, not just cookies. In such times, you might remember that “c” is also for confection. Confection is a word that refers to something confected—that is, put together—from several different ingredients or elements. Often confections are sweet and edible, but confection can also be used to refer to a finely worked piece of craftsmanship. In other words, the lacy box containing chocolate confections can be a confection itself. Tracing back to the Latin verb conficere (“to carry out, perform, make, bring about, collect, bring to completion”), confection entered Middle English as the word confeccioun, meaning “preparation by mixing ingredients; something prepared by mixing, such as a medicine or dish of food,” and has since taken on additional, often figurative meanings in English in the ensuing centuries, as in “the beloved musical confection ‘C is for Cookie.’”

Synonyms

• sweet
• sweetmeat

Examples of confection in a Sentence

an assortment of delicious cakes and other confections

following the main course there were assorted confections so delicious-looking as to tempt even determined dieters

Recent Examples on the Web

In Danny Boyle’s marvelously unhinged 1997 lovers-on-the-lam confection A Life Less Ordinary, Diaz plays Celine, an heiress who’s kidnapped by a hapless janitor, Ewan McGregor’s Robert. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025

Unlike other confections, whose production lines used a drop-bake-sell approach, macaron production required more time, more specialized equipment, and more involvement. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

The confection was adorned with fresh white florals and the couple's initials in gold. 09 of 13 Ready to Party Later into the evening, Davis and Brown did a quick change, swapping their formal attire for more relaxed looks — all the better to dance in! —Erin Clack, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024

The trend can be traced even further back to 2022, when Kirsten Dunst wore a deep-pink tulle confection from fall 2002 to the Oscars, while Adut Akech opted for an emerald-green ruffled gown from fall 2003 (wearing it back to front, no less) at the Met Gala. —Emily Chan, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confeccioun "preparation by mixing ingredients, something prepared by mixing, as a medicine or dish of food," borrowed from Anglo-French confectiun, confeccion, borrowed from Medieval Latin confectiōn-, confectiō, going back to Latin, "making ready for use, preparation," from conficere "to carry out, perform, make, bring about, collect, bring to completion" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at confect

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

confection

noun

con·​fec·​tion kən-ˈfek-shən 

: a fancy dish or sweet

Etymology

Middle English confectioun "mixture, candy," from early French confection "mixture," derived from Latin conficere "to prepare," from con-, com- "together" and -ficere, from facere "to make, do" — related to fashion

Medical Definition

confection

noun

con·​fec·​tion kən-ˈfek-shən 

: a medicinal preparation usually made with sugar, syrup, or honey

called also electuary