What does "entanglement" mean?
The act of entangling.
Entanglement
/ɪnˈtæŋɡəlmənt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of entangling.
- Grammar: entanglement is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abatis, absorption, adulterous affair, adultery.
- Useful contrasts: classical correlation, detachment, disentanglement.
- Usage evidence: Every government office seems to have problems in expediting matters without entanglement in its red tape system.
How to use "entanglement"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "entanglement" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "entanglement" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "entanglement" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "entanglement" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "entanglement" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abatis" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "entanglement", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of entangling. countable, uncountable
"The most notorious of these was his entanglement of the Soviet Union in the Cuban missile crisis, against the advice of the military, who held him responsible for their embarrassing inability to frighten the USA because he had failed[…]"
- 2 an intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim wordnet
- 3 The state or condition of being entangled; intricate and confused involution.; The condition of being deeply involved and intricated (with politics, a group, another person, etc.) countable, uncountable
"The Letters' account of Dolghurucki's hopeless entanglement in the politics of the imperial accession resonated with her readers, and Vigor's story becomes a minor set piece of Russian histories in the eighteenth century."
- 4 The state or condition of being entangled; intricate and confused involution.; The condition, or an instance, of being romantically or sexually involved with another person; an affair. countable, uncountable
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:entanglement."
- 5 That which entangles; an involvement, a complication; an intricacy; a perplexity.; An obstruction placed in front or on the flank of a fortification, to impede an enemy's approach. countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 That which entangles; an involvement, a complication; an intricacy; a perplexity.; An obstruction of cables and spars across a river or harbour entrance. countable, uncountable
- 7 Ellipsis of quantum entanglement. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"In his article, Bell demonstrated that quantum theory requires entanglement; the strange connectedness is an inescapable feature of the equations."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Every government office seems to have problems in expediting matters without entanglement in its red tape system."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "entanglement"?
Common synonyms include: abatis, absorption, adulterous affair, adultery, advanced work, affair.
How do you use "entanglement" in a sentence?
Every government office seems to have problems in expediting matters without entanglement in its red tape system.
How do you pronounce "entanglement"?
Pronounced /ɪnˈtæŋɡəlmənt/.
Etymology
From entangle + -ment.