Communications a long time after confusion (8)
I believe the answer is:
messages
'communications' is the definition.
(I know this)
'a long time after confusion' is the wordplay.
'a long time' becomes 'ages' (ages can mean a very long time).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'confusion' becomes 'mess' (mess can mean confusion or chaos).
'ages' put after 'mess' is 'MESSAGES'.
(Other definitions for messages that I've seen before include "Notes" , "Pieces of information carried from one person to another" , "Communications, written, spoken or signaled" , "Brief communications" , "Communications or errands" .)