Conflation is the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, or opinions into one, often in error.^[1] Conflation is defined as 'fusing blending', but is often used colloquially as 'being equal to' - treating two similar but disparate concepts as the same.Merriam Webster suggested this shift in usage happened relatively recently, entering their dictionary in 1973.^[2]

Inlogic, it is the practice of treating two distinctconcepts as one, which produces errors or misunderstandings as a fusion of distinct subjects tends to obscure analysis of relationships which are emphasized by contrasts.^[3] However, if the distinctions between the two concepts may appear to be superficial, intentional conflation can be desirable for the sake of conciseness and recall.

The result of conflating concepts may give rise tofallacies andambiguity, including thefallacy of four terms in a categoricalsyllogism. For example, the word "bat" has at least two distinct meanings: aflying animal, and a piece of sporting equipment (such as abaseball bat orcricket bat). If these meanings are not distinguished, the result may be the following categoricalsyllogism, which may be seen as a joke (pun):

1. All bats are animals.
2. Some wooden objects are bats.
3. Therefore, some wooden objects are animals.

Using words with different meanings can help clarify, or can cause real confusion. English words with multiple (verb) meanings can be illustrated by instances in which a motion is merged with or a causation with manner,^[4] e.g.the bride floated towards her future. In this example, the bride may be married on a boat, airplane, or hot-air balloon, etc.^[5] She could be walking the aisle towards matrimony.^[6] The verb "float" has multiple meanings, and both verb meanings in the example may be proper uses of a bride "floating" toward a future. The "manner" of the scene, described by further context, would explain the true meaning of the sentence.

In an alternate illustrative example,respect is used both in the sense of recognizing a right and having high regard for someone or something. We canrespect someone's right to an opinion withoutholding this idea in high regard. But conflation of these two different concepts leads to the notion that all ideological ideas should be treated with respect, rather than just the right to hold these ideas. Conflation in logical terms is very similar toequivocation.^{[citation needed]}

In linguistic, taxonomic conflation happens when apolysemic term is on two or more taxic levels. This presents a difficulty in translation. An example is "sex-based conflation". For example, "spokesman", depending on the context, may mean a "spokesman who is man" and a "spokeswoman".^[7]

• Amalgamation (names)
• Confounding variable in regression analysis
• Essentialism
• Portmanteau
• Skunked term
• Stemming algorithm
• Syncretism

• Alexiadou, Artemus. (2002).Theoretical Approaches to Universals. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.ISBN 978-90-272-2770-6;OCLC 49386229
• Haught, John F. (1995).Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation. New York: Paulist Press.ISBN 978-0-8091-3606-3;OCLC 32779780
• Malone, Joseph L. (1988).The Science of Linguistics in the Art of Translation: Some Tools from Linguistics for the Analysis and Practice of Translation. Albany, New York:State University of New York Press.ISBN 978-0-88706-653-5;OCLC 15856738

Look upconflation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Conflations

• Concepts in logic
• Fallacies
• Concepts in the philosophy of language

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