# baffle

/ˈbæfəɫ/ (US) · /bˈæfəl/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baffle
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a person who is very difficult to understand or deal with. You use this word when someone's behavior or personality is confusing and hard to figure out.

For teachers: a person whose character or behavior is difficult to understand or predict. Primarily used in British English; informal and dialectal in register.

## Examples

- He is a real baffle to everyone who works with him.
- The new manager is a complete baffle, changing his mind about the project every other day.
- While his technical skills are undeniable, his erratic social behavior makes him a baffle to his colleagues, who struggle to reconcile his professional competence with his personal aloofness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.