confection

noun

con·​fec·​tion kən-ˈfek-shən How to pronounce confection (audio)
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.’”

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
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.
The most important elements of a tea ceremony are the interactions between the host serving the tea and the recipient, as well as the tea utensils, including the chawan (tea bowl) and the sweet wagashi (Japanese confections) served with matcha. Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 12 June 2025 Baltimore’s own favorite sweet, the Berger cookie, was by comparison a very different confection. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025 Five products in each category — except confections, which had six — were named finalists, for a total of 91 products in the running for a gold ribbon. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025 The result is sort of like eating a ridiculous confection and then finding a full meal in the middle. Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for confection

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of confection was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Confection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confection. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

confection

noun
con·​fec·​tion kən-ˈfek-shən How to pronounce confection (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce confection (audio)
: a medicinal preparation usually made with sugar, syrup, or honey

called also electuary

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