Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
labyrinth
This term evokes a sense of disorientation and entrapment, often associated with a feeling of being lost in a physical or systemic structure. While frequently used interchangeably with maze, a technical distinction exists: a maze is a puzzle with choices and dead ends, whereas a classical labyrinth consists of a single, non-branching path leading to the center. In medical contexts, the word refers specifically to the delicate anatomy of the inner ear. In social or professional contexts, it describes an oppressive or overly complex bureaucracy where progress is hindered by confusing regulations.
Meanings
A complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze.
"The ancient ruins contained a labyrinth of underground tunnels."
A complex and confusing system of rules, procedures, or arrangements that is difficult to navigate or understand.
"The new employee struggled to navigate the corporate labyrinth of bureaucracy."