Perplexity

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pəˈplÉ›ksɪti/
• US IPA: /pəɹˈplÉ›ksÉ™di/

Origin

From Middle French perplexité or post-classical Latin perplexitas ‘entanglement’, from perplexus.

Full definition of perplexity

Noun

1. The state or quality of being perplexed; puzzled or confused.
2. Something that perplexes.
• 1942, Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006), page 149:The Emperor, who was by then a focus of unresolvable perplexities, stood providing a strongly contrary appearance.
3. A measurement in information theory: see Perplexity.