snafu

noun sna·fu \ sna-ˈfü , ˈsna-ˌfü \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of snafu

: a situation marked by errors or confusion : muddle; also : an error causing such a situation

a scheduling snafu

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Recent Examples of snafu from the Web

Fairfield City School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Lani Wildow, shared the domino effect of today's technology snafu.

— maria devito, Cincinnati.com, "Statewide testing halted as Ohio site reports login issue," 18 Apr. 2018
Prince William and Kate Middleton aren't the only high-profile figures to commit this etiquette snafu.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "How Prince William and Kate Middleton Broke Royal Protocol This Weekend," 2 Apr. 2018
Friday's launch of the newest Galaxy model from Samsung included a snafu that may have steered some Sprint customers toward rival Verizon.

— mark davis, kansascity, "Samsung's SIM snafu may have nudged some Sprint Galaxy S9 owners toward Verizon | The Kansas City Star," 16 Mar. 2018
By the end of the first week of the snafu, with dozens of stores still shut, the chain changed its tune, taking out full-page newspaper ads to apologize and sending lighthearted tweets that rearranged the chain’s brand letters to FCK.

— christopher jasper, Bloomberg.com, "KFC’s Big Screw-Up Left Restaurants Without Chicken," 1 Mar. 2018
Has the team talked to you much about the recent snafu with the Laney College site?

— susan slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, "Have questions for A’s owner emeritus Lew Wolff? The Chronicle asks them for you," 28 Feb. 2018
Thanks to the cosplay area, which provides glue guns and other materials to repair costumes, cosplayers get to hang out and help out each other with broken straps and other costume snafus.

— mark peters, Chicago Reader, "Comic fans meet their heroes, impress the kids, and form lifelong bonds of geekdom at C2E2," 4 Apr. 2018
There were a few snafus along the way to love, though.

— rebecca shinners, Country Living, "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Real-Life Love Story Will Make You Swoon," 3 Apr. 2018
Officials said the snafu in last Tuesday's primary occurred at the end of voting hours when election judges at all 268 locations tried to insert a specially-coded sheet of cardstock paper into vote-tabulation machines.

— gary gibula, Naperville Sun, "DuPage County Board blasts election commission for 'stunning' voting machine snafu," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snafu.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of snafu

situation normal all fucked up (fouled up)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1941

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

snafu

adjective

Definition of snafu

: snarled or stalled in confusion : awry

First Known Use of snafu

1942

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

snafu

verb

Definition of snafu

transitive verb

: to bring into a state of confusion

First Known Use of snafu

1943

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SNAFU Defined for English Language Learners

snafu

noun

Definition of snafu for English Language Learners

: a problem that makes a situation difficult or confusing

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