distracción

distraction

noun dees-trak-SYOHN Rare

Origin: From Latin distractio ('pulling apart').

Also means

absent-mindedness

Usage Note

Distracción covers both the mental state of inattentiveness and the activity that causes it. Por distracción means 'out of absent-mindedness' and is commonly used to explain small mistakes. Its verb is distraer (irregular: distraigo, distrae) and the adjective is distraído ('absent-minded'). Do not confuse with entretenimiento, which stresses entertainment rather than loss of focus.

Examples

"Cometió el error por distracción."

Natural Translation

He made the mistake out of absent-mindedness.

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