# maze

/ˈmeɪz/ (US) · /mˈeɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maze
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a physical labyrinth

noun · CEFR B1

a puzzle made of many paths where it is easy to get lost.

For teachers: a complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is difficult to find one's way; a labyrinth.

- The children spent an hour trying to find the exit of the garden maze.
- The palace grounds featured an elaborate hedge maze that had challenged visitors for over two centuries.

### 2. a confusing system

noun · CEFR B2

a situation or set of rules that is very complicated and hard to understand.

For teachers: a complex or confusing network of ideas, rules, or circumstances.

- It was difficult to navigate the maze of government rules to start a business.
- New investors often struggle to find their way through the maze of conflicting financial regulations and tax codes.

### 3. mental confusion

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a state of being very confused or surprised.

For teachers: a state of bewilderment or mental confusion.

- He wandered through the day in a maze of grief and disbelief.
- The sudden news left her in such a maze of thought that she could hardly speak to her guests.

## Examples

- The children got lost in the garden maze.
- The new hospital is such a maze of corridors that I needed a map to find the exit.
- Navigating the legal maze of international tax law requires years of specialized training and a keen eye for detail.

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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.