distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion di-ˈstrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
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
distractive adjective

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.
Reality check: Whether the 1.5-degree target has been exceeded is a distraction from the proper focus: rapidly bringing down emissions of planet-warming pollutants such as carbon dioxide, experts told Axios. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025 This dissociation is what the title of the upcoming Buckcherry album, Roar Like Thunder refers to, staying on track when everything is a distraction. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 11 Feb. 2025 Everything else is a distraction, including data that supposedly describes the quality, safety and efficiency of their care. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025 There are elements of CISA, the elections security mission specifically, that was clearly spelled out in Project 2025 as a distraction, as something that's not core. CBS News, 9 Feb. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near distraction

Cite this Entry

“Distraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distraction. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

distraction

noun
dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
1
: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted
especially : mental confusion
2
a
: something that makes it hard to pay attention
distractive adjective

Medical Definition

distraction

noun
dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən How to pronounce distraction (audio)
1
a
: diversion of the attention
b
: mental confusion
2
: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments
distract transitive verb

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!