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distraction

n.
US //dɪˈstɹækʃən// UK //dɪstɹˈækʃən// dis·trac·tion
  1. 1 something that diverts attention (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something that takes your attention away from what you are supposed to be doing.

    a thing that prevents someone from giving their full attention to something else.

    Example

    I find it hard to work at home because there are so many distractions like the TV and the fridge.

    Example

    The constant pinging of smartphone notifications serves as a major distraction for students attempting to engage with complex academic texts.
  2. 2 the state of being unfocused (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of being unable to think clearly because your mind is on something else.

    the state of being distracted; a lack of mental focus or concentration.

    Example

    She stared at the page in distraction, unable to remember what she had just read.

    Example

    His distraction was evident during the meeting, as he repeatedly asked colleagues to restate points that had already been clarified.
    • inattention
    • absent mindedness
    • attentiveness
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  1. 3 extreme agitation (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    a state of being very upset, worried, or confused.

    extreme mental agitation, distress, or a state of being nearly 'driven mad' by emotion.

    Example

    By the end of the long search, the worried parents were driven to distraction.

    Example

    The protagonist's mind was in a state of total distraction as he grappled with the weight of his conflicting loyalties.
  2. 4 medical traction (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a medical technique used to pull bones or joints apart slightly to help them heal.

    the act of pulling a limb or bone to separate joint surfaces or lengthen a bone.

    Example

    The surgeon used distraction to create a small gap in the bone so new tissue could grow.

    Example

    The clinical team monitored the patient daily during the distraction phase of the limb-lengthening procedure to ensure proper callus formation.

    Usage

    Often used in orthopedic surgery contexts regarding bone lengthening.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio. Equivalent to distract + -ion.

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