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Confirmation vs. Conformation — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on May 28, 2024
"Confirmation" refers to the act of verifying or validating something, while "Conformation" relates to the structure, shape, or arrangement of something.
Confirmation vs. Conformation — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Confirmation and Conformation

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Key Differences

Confirmation and Conformation, while sounding similar, entail diverse meanings and applications. Confirmation implies an act of establishing truth, validity, or compliance, often used in a communicative or verifiable context to denote agreement or validation.
Conversely, Conformation pertains to the arrangement, formation, or structure of something, referring specifically to its shape or construct. Often utilized in scientific, particularly biological, and chemical contexts, conformation addresses the configuration or shape of entities.
Confirmation might typically be encountered in various domains such as religion, law, and general communication, where validating, corroborating, or establishing a fact or agreement is pertinent. For instance, confirming an appointment or the confirmation of a candidate in a particular role.
In contrast, Conformation is quite explicit in its application, usually referring to the physicality and structural arrangement of molecules in science, or the physical formation of organisms in biology. It can explore how the structure or shape of something conforms to expected standards or variances.
Distinctly, while Confirmation is broadly applied across multiple contexts (be it everyday conversation or specialized domains like legal discourse), Conformation finds its niche predominantly in scientific dialogue, emphasizing a structured and physically shaped context.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Affirmation or validation of a fact or position
Structure, formation, or physical arrangement

Usage

Widespread across various contexts
Primarily used in scientific contexts

Application

Can be applied in verbal, written, and formal validations
Applies to describe physical or structural aspects

Common Context

Legal, religious, and general communication
Chemistry, biology, and physical sciences

Example

Confirming a reservation
Conformation of a molecule

Compare with Definitions

Confirmation

Verification of the truth or accuracy.
Your reservation confirmation is sent via email.

Conformation

The spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
Different conformations can influence a molecule's reactivity.

Confirmation

Ratification of an action or decision.
She gave her confirmation to proceed with the project.

Conformation

The shape, structure, or arrangement of a part or thing.
The conformation of the protein was analyzed using X-ray crystallography.

Confirmation

A ceremonial event in some Christian traditions.
Her confirmation took place at the local church.

Conformation

Compliance or adherence to a standard or rules.
The dog was judged on conformation to breed standards.

Confirmation

An acknowledgment with assured validity.
He sent a confirmation letter to the applicant.

Conformation

The structured form or physiognomy of entities.
The conformation of the landscape was altered by the earthquake.

Confirmation

In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands.

Conformation

The act of conforming or the state of being conformed.

Confirmation

The act of confirming.

Conformation

The structure or outline of an item or entity, determined by the arrangement of its parts.

Confirmation

Something that confirms; verification.

Conformation

A symmetrical arrangement of the parts of a thing.

Confirmation

A Christian rite admitting a baptized person to full membership in a church.

Conformation

One of the spatial arrangements of atoms in a molecule that can come about through free rotation of the atoms about a chemical bond.

Confirmation

A ceremony in Judaism that marks the completion of a young person's religious training.

Conformation

The act of conforming; the act of producing conformity.

Confirmation

An official indicator that things will happen as planned.
We will send you a written confirmation of your hotel booking.

Conformation

The state of being conformed; agreement

Confirmation

A verification that something is true or has happened.
The announcement in the newspaper was a confirmation of my suspicions.

Conformation

Structure, the arrangement of parts of some thing; form; arrangement.

Confirmation

A ceremony of sealing and conscious acknowledgement of the faith in many Christian churches, typically around the ages of 14 to 18; considered a sacrament in some churches, including Catholicism, but not in most Protestant churches.

Conformation

(chemistry) The spatial arrangement of a group of atoms in a molecule as a result of rotation about a covalent bond which remains unbroken.

Confirmation

The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing, ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment.
Their blood is shedIn confirmation of the noblest claim.

Conformation

The act of conforming; the act of producing conformity.
The conformation of our hearts and lives to the duties of true religion and morality.

Confirmation

That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony.
Trifles light as airAre to the jealous confirmations strongAs proofs of holy writ.

Conformation

The state of being conformed; agreement; hence; structure, as depending on the arrangement of parts; form; arrangement.
In Hebrew poetry, there may be observed a certain conformation of the sentences.
A structure and conformation of the earth.

Confirmation

A rite supplemental to baptism, by which a person is admitted, through the laying on of the hands of a bishop, to the full privileges of the church, as in the Roman Catholic, the Episcopal Church, etc.
This ordinance is called confirmation, because they who duly receive it are confirmed or strengthened for the fulfillment of their Christian duties, by the grace therein bestowed upon them.

Conformation

A symmetrical arrangement of the parts of a thing

Confirmation

A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not voidable, or by which a particular estate is increased; a contract, express or implied, by which a person makes that firm and binding which was before voidable.

Conformation

Any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline);
He could barely make out their shapes through the smoke

Confirmation

Additional proof that something that was believed (some fact or hypothesis or theory) is correct;
Fossils provided further confirmation of the evolutionary theory

Conformation

Acting according to certain accepted standards

Confirmation

Information that confirms or verifies

Conformation

Correspondence or alignment with a given shape or structure.
The conformation of the skull was indicative of a particular species.

Confirmation

Making something valid by formally ratifying or confirming it;
The ratification of the treaty
Confirmation of the appointment

Confirmation

A ceremony held in the synagogue (usually at Pentecost) to admit as adult members of the Jewish community young men and women who have successfully completed a course of study in Judaism

Confirmation

A sacrament admitting a baptized person to full participation in the church

Confirmation

Affirmation or assurance of a statement or fact.
The manager provided confirmation of the meeting date.

Common Curiosities

Can confirmation and conformation be used interchangeably?

No, because "confirmation" pertains to validation or verification, while "conformation" relates to physical structure or arrangement.

Is conformation only used to describe scientific phenomena?

Predominantly yes, although it can also describe any entity’s shape or formation, such as an athlete’s physical conformation to ideal standards.

Does confirmation always require physical evidence?

No, confirmation can be provided through various means, such as verbal acknowledgment, written documentation, or other forms of validation.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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