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 of confection

• candy
• dessert
• sweet

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

This cake features our Luscious Lemon Frosting, a citrusy buttercream confection. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Only confections that include no flour and require no refrigeration are considered candy under that definition, which Kelly said will be used as the basis of the new SNAP restrictions. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026

With 2,800 square feet of real estate, Poulette Bakeshop will roughly double its footprint, making way for not only upgraded equipment that will bolster production of its signature pastries and confections, but also guest seating that allows patrons to linger, said co-owner Carolyn Nugent. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026

Sweet and creamy with a touch of salt, these hard candies are an elevated version of a timeless confection. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for confection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction
• defection

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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