distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion di-ˈstrak-shən 

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

di-ˈstrak-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms of distraction

• confusion
• fog
• tangle

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

The fact that the content happens to be adult is, for the strategist, a distraction. —Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

Her efforts were sometimes derided as distractions from other pressing issues, such as the Vietnam War. —Steven Sloan, Fortune, 9 May 2026

While Raman portrayed herself as the focus of attacks from both opponents, Bass’ campaign rejected that framing as a distraction from her debate performance and City Council record. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 8 May 2026

The Writers Guild of America West has reached a tentative deal with its staff union to end a lengthy strike, which became an unwanted distraction during negotiations with the major studios. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 May 2026

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

Rhymes for distraction

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction
• olfaction

Kids Definition

distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən 

1

: the act of distracting : the state of being distracted

especially : mental confusion

2

a

: something that makes it hard to pay attention

b

: amusement sense 1

distractive

-ˈtrak-tiv 

adjective

Medical Definition

distraction

noun

dis·​trac·​tion dis-ˈtrak-shən 

1

a

: diversion of the attention

b

: mental confusion

2

: excessive separation (as from improper traction) of fracture fragments

distract

dis-ˈtrakt 

transitive verb