Conflate

To conflate is to combine two or more separate things, such as ideas, texts, or information, into a single entity. This process often involves merging or blending elements in a way that can create a new, more complex whole. Conflation typically implies a mixing or fusing of distinct concepts, sometimes leading to confusion or a blurring of boundaries. It can also mean to treat separate things as if they were the same, potentially overlooking important distinctions. Successful conflation requires careful consideration to ensure the resultant combined entity retains clarity and accuracy. It is a common practice in many fields including art, music, literature, and science.

Conflate meaning with examples

• The historian was criticized for conflating two separate historical events, leading to an inaccurate portrayal of the timeline. Her lack of careful research into the documents gave the audience a false impression, thus, it created a new interpretation.
• In her analysis, the writer tended to conflate personal feelings with objective facts, which made her arguments less persuasive and open to criticism. The data, though in context, had no validation. The lack of validation created a problem that made the argument void.
• The artist cleverly conflated classical and modern painting styles, resulting in a unique and captivating aesthetic that challenged artistic conventions and provided new ideas. He was considered a revolutionary by many of his peers.
• The marketing team chose to conflate the product's features with its benefits, presenting a streamlined, and easily understood message, although critics found this to be misleading and oversimplified.
• The software developer found the error in his work, where the two distinct software modules were inadvertently conflated during integration, causing operational errors. The source of the error had to be tracked to get a complete correction.