fusion

fusion — noun

1. the act or process of bringing two or more separate things together into a singl

1.nounB2
Definition

the act or process of bringing two or more separate things together into a single complete entity

Example

The fusion of Liang's design team with Adaeze's engineering group produced a breakthrough smartphone.

fusion of + noun + with + noun

The company was created by the fusion of three smaller firms in South Korea.

passive verb + by the fusion of

Common collocations
  • a fusion of cultures
  • a fusion of styles
  • cultural fusion
  • fusion of ideas
Synonyms
  • combination

    the most general term; fusion suggests a more thorough blending into a single entity

  • blend

    emphasises smooth mixing of elements, especially in cooking or design

  • merger

    specifically used for companies or organisations combining legally

  • union

    suggests elements coming together while keeping some separate identity

Antonyms
  • separation

    the act of keeping things apart rather than combining them

Grammar Patterns

the fusion of X and Y

a fusion of X and Y

Usage Note

Often paired with 'of' to connect the elements being combined: 'the fusion of A and B.' One of the elements may also follow 'with': 'fusion of A with B.'

Common Mistakes

There was a fusion between the two teams.
There was a fusion of the two teams.
'fusion of' is the standard preposition pattern, not 'fusion between.'
The dish was a confusion of Thai and Italian foods.
The dish was a fusion of Thai and Italian foods.
'fusion' and 'confusion' are easily confused by spelling but have completely different meanings.

2. the process in which the central cores of atoms merge to create a heavier atomic

2.nounC1
Definition

the process in which the central cores of atoms merge to create a heavier atomic centre, releasing an enormous amount of energy

Example

Nuclear fusion powers the sun and every other star in the universe.

nuclear fusion + powers + celestial body

Scientists at the research lab achieved sustained nuclear fusion for five seconds.

sustained nuclear fusion

Common collocations
  • nuclear fusion
  • fusion reactor
  • fusion energy
  • cold fusion
  • thermonuclear fusion
Antonyms
  • nuclear fission

    the opposite process — splitting a heavy nucleus into lighter ones

Grammar Patterns

nuclear fusion

fusion reaction

fusion energy

Usage Note

Nuclear fusion is the opposite of nuclear fission. Fission splits heavy nuclei apart; fusion joins light nuclei together. The term 'fusion' alone, without 'nuclear,' usually refers to sense 1 in everyday contexts.

Common Mistakes

Nuclear fusion splits atoms to release energy.
Nuclear fusion joins atomic nuclei together to release energy.
Fusion combines nuclei; fission is the process that splits them. These are opposite reactions.
The nuclear fusion created dangerous radiation.
Nuclear fusion produces very little radioactive waste compared to fission.
Fusion is generally cleaner than fission.

3. a style of music created by blending two or more different musical traditions, m

3.nounB2
Definition

a style of music created by blending two or more different musical traditions, most often jazz with rock

Example

The quartet plays a fusion of traditional Irish folk music and modern jazz.

fusion of X and Y

Hugo's debut album blends Latin fusion with Afrobeat rhythms and electronic production.

Common collocations
  • jazz-rock fusion
  • Latin fusion
  • fusion band
  • fusion album
Synonyms
  • crossover

    broader term for any artist or work that crosses genre boundaries; less tied to a specific historical movement

  • hybrid

    emphasises the mixed origins; more technical in music criticism

Grammar Patterns

fusion of X and Y

X fusion

Usage Note

In music contexts, 'fusion' often appears as part of a compound label: 'jazz-rock fusion,' 'Latin fusion,' 'world fusion.' The term originally referred specifically to jazz-rock in the 1970s but now covers any blended genre.

Common Mistakes

I enjoy classical fusion.
I enjoy classical-influenced fusion music.
'Fusion' in music implies blending two genres; specifying which genres are blended makes the meaning clearer.

4. a style of cooking that brings together ingredients, techniques, or flavours fro

4.nounB2
Definition

a style of cooking that brings together ingredients, techniques, or flavours from two or more different culinary traditions

Example

The new restaurant specialises in Asian-Latin fusion cuisine.

fusion cuisine as compound noun

Chef Gabriela creates fusion dishes that combine Japanese techniques with Brazilian ingredients.

Common collocations
  • fusion cuisine
  • fusion dishes
  • fusion restaurant
  • Asian fusion
  • fusion cooking

Grammar Patterns

fusion cuisine

a fusion of X and Y

Usage Note

Often used as an adjective before nouns ('fusion cuisine,' 'fusion dishes,' 'fusion restaurant'). Unlike sense 3 (music), the culinary sense rarely stands alone — the word 'cuisine' or 'cooking' is usually added for clarity.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant serves fusion.
The restaurant serves fusion cuisine.
'Fusion' alone sounds incomplete in a food context; pair it with 'cuisine,' 'cooking,' or 'dishes.'

5. a medical operation that permanently joins two or more bones together so that th

5.nounC1
Definition

a medical operation that permanently joins two or more bones together so that they heal into a single solid piece, most often performed on the spine

Example

Rodrigo underwent spinal fusion after years of chronic back pain.

spinal fusion — most common medical type

Kabir's father needed fusion surgery on his wrist after the car accident crushed the joint.

Common collocations
  • spinal fusion
  • fusion surgery
  • lumbar fusion
  • joint fusion
  • bone fusion
Synonyms
  • arthrodesis

    the formal medical term for surgical joint fusion; very technical, rarely used outside clinical contexts

Grammar Patterns

X fusion

fusion surgery

Usage Note

Commonly paired with the body part: 'spinal fusion,' 'hip fusion,' 'knee fusion.' The verb form 'fuse' is also used medically: 'The surgeon fused three vertebrae.'

Common Mistakes

He had a fusion on his back.
He had spinal fusion surgery on his lower back.
Specify the type of fusion ('spinal,' 'lumbar') and use 'surgery' for clarity.

Word family

  • fuse
    verbB2
  • fused
    adjectiveB2
  • fusible
    adjectiveC1
  • fusional
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Fusion, combination, blend, merger, and union all describe things coming together, but they differ in how thoroughly the elements merge. Fusion suggests the most complete integration — the original parts become hard to separate, like two metals melted together. Combination is the broadest and most neutral term: a 'combination of factors' could be any kind of joining, loose or tight. Blend emphasises smooth mixing, especially of soft or intangible things: 'a blend of cultures.' Merger is the most specific, used almost exclusively for companies or organisations. Union often carries a political or personal tone, as in 'a labour union' or 'a union of hearts.' In everyday writing, fusion suits descriptions of art, music, or ideas where the result is more than the sum of its parts; use combination when the elements stay more distinct.

combination ↗blend ↗merger ↗union ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • as a fusion of
  • in fusion with

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Fusion entered English around the 1550s from French 'fusion' and directly from Latin 'fusionem' (a pouring out, effusion). The Latin root 'fusio' comes from 'fundere' — to pour, melt, or cast metal. This original 'melting together' image persisted through the centuries. The nuclear meaning arrived in the 1940s as physicists described how stars produce energy. The music sense appeared in the 1970s with the jazz-rock movement, and the cooking sense followed in the 1980s as chefs began deliberately mixing culinary traditions.