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

The ultra-moist confection has a sweet, fruity, spiced flavor profile that might be described as carrot cake meets banana bread. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

The sweet confection has a magic after midnight vibe, much like The Maker Hotel, which is the muse behind all their fragrances. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The Chrysler is among the few buildings in the Manhattan skyline to which the word iconic can be non-ironically applied, so when the opportunity to buy the sublime Art Deco confection came up, Rosen took it. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 19 Dec. 2024

More à propos abroad are similarly timed Christmas confections Wonka ($71M at today’s rates in like-for-likes) and Jumanji: The Next Level ($122.8M), as well as the May 2019 release of Aladdin ($115.3M). —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 17 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