illusion

noun

il·lu·sion i-ˈlü-zhən How to pronounce illusion (audio)

plural illusions

a(1)

: a misleading image presented to the vision : optical illusion

(2)

: something that deceives or misleads intellectually

b(1)

: perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature

(2)

: hallucination sense 1

(3)

: a pattern capable of reversible perspective

a(1)

: the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled : misapprehension

(2)

: an instance of such deception

obsolete : the action of deceiving

: a fine plain transparent bobbinet or tulle usually made of silk and used for veils, trimmings, and dresses

illusional

i-ˈlü-zh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce illusion (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

Allusion and Illusion

Allusion and illusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin word ludere, meaning “to play”), and sound quite similar, but they are distinct words with very different meanings. An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect. Each of the nouns has a related verb form: allude “to refer indirectly to,” and illude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.”

Example Sentences

The video game is designed to give the illusion that you are in control of an airplane. They used paint to create the illusion of metal. She says that all progress is just an illusion.

Recent Examples on the Web The Red Sox, meanwhile, are fast approaching the point where even the illusion of contention is hard to sustain – particularly given the mounting injuries that seem to befall them on a nightly basis.

Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 Elegant, layered drapes—instead of blinds or valances—pair with light-colored curtain rods and hardware, allowing in plenty of natural light while giving the illusion of more height.

Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2022 There’s a large outdoor patio, reached through sliding glass doors, covered in real grass, giving the illusion of stepping out to a backyard.

Nancy Keates, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 The music tiptoed along the knife edge of its key, its tones, giving the illusion of freedom when there were always far more missteps than safe harbors and nimble plunges into grace.

Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 The main drag, when not underwater, has heaps of wet, packed sand giving the illusion of hills.

Kirsten Fiscus, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021 Then the local ban — which state Republican leaders had encouraged the judge to reinstate — removed for many voters the illusion of protection in North Carolina.

Hannah Schoenbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 In an on-trend graphic pattern, this bikini has a supportive underwire top with pretty tulle illusion panels, adjustable straps and lace-up back detailing that can be worn a multitude of ways.

Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2022 The piece features padded shoulders, a tie-front decoration, and cutouts at the waist giving the illusion of a two-piece set.

Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Aug. 2022 See More

illusion

noun

as in dream

a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality the magician specializes in creating illusions, so that people believe they have seen something when they really haven't

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

dream
fantasy
delusion
daydream
vision
unreality
idea
mirage
phantasm
hallucination
chimera
imaging
nightmare
conceit
figment
phantasy
pipe dream
fantasm
fiction
visualization
nonentity
fancy
castle in the air
utopia
castle in Spain
fabrication
concoction
fable
ignis fatuus
brainchild
cloudland
envisaging
will-o'-the-wisp
invention
cloud-cuckoo-land
Shangri-la
daymare

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reality
fact
actuality

as in delusion

a false idea or belief he had no illusions about how much effort and money the renovation project would require

Synonyms & Similar Words

delusion
myth
error
superstition
misconception
hallucination
fallacy
misunderstanding
falsehood
untruth
misbelief
falsity
pretense
distortion
misperception
lie
fiction
tale
old wives' tale
misrepresentation
misinterpretation
misapprehension
pretence
miscomprehension
misinformation
inaccuracy
misjudgment
factoid
sophism
story
misstatement
sophistry
fib
misreport
misknowledge
half-truth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

truth
verity

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of illusion are delusion, hallucination, and mirage. While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.

an illusion of safety

While the synonyms delusion and illusion are close in meaning, delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.

delusions of persecution

In some situations, the words hallucination and illusion are roughly equivalent. However, hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.

suffered from terrifying hallucinations

The words mirage and illusion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.

claimed a balanced budget is a mirage

单词	illusion
释义	illusion noun il·lu·sion i-ˈlü-zhən plural illusions 1 a(1) : a misleading image presented to the vision : optical illusion (2) : something that deceives or misleads intellectually b(1) : perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature (2) : hallucination sense 1 (3) : a pattern capable of reversible perspective 2 a(1) : the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled : misapprehension (2) : an instance of such deception b obsolete : the action of deceiving 3 : a fine plain transparent bobbinet or tulle usually made of silk and used for veils, trimmings, and dresses illusional i-ˈlü-zh(ə-)nəl adjective Illustration of illusion a and b are equal in length Did you know? Allusion and Illusion Allusion and illusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin word ludere, meaning “to play”), and sound quite similar, but they are distinct words with very different meanings. An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect. Each of the nouns has a related verb form: allude “to refer indirectly to,” and illude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.” Synonyms chimera conceit daydream delusion dream fancy fantasy phantasy figment hallucination nonentity phantasm fantasm pipe dream unreality vision See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The video game is designed to give the illusion that you are in control of an airplane. They used paint to create the illusion of metal. She says that all progress is just an illusion. Recent Examples on the Web The Red Sox, meanwhile, are fast approaching the point where even the illusion of contention is hard to sustain – particularly given the mounting injuries that seem to befall them on a nightly basis. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 Elegant, layered drapes—instead of blinds or valances—pair with light-colored curtain rods and hardware, allowing in plenty of natural light while giving the illusion of more height. Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2022 There’s a large outdoor patio, reached through sliding glass doors, covered in real grass, giving the illusion of stepping out to a backyard. Nancy Keates, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 The music tiptoed along the knife edge of its key, its tones, giving the illusion of freedom when there were always far more missteps than safe harbors and nimble plunges into grace. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2021 The main drag, when not underwater, has heaps of wet, packed sand giving the illusion of hills. Kirsten Fiscus, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2021 Then the local ban — which state Republican leaders had encouraged the judge to reinstate — removed for many voters the illusion of protection in North Carolina. Hannah Schoenbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 In an on-trend graphic pattern, this bikini has a supportive underwire top with pretty tulle illusion panels, adjustable straps and lace-up back detailing that can be worn a multitude of ways. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2022 The piece features padded shoulders, a tie-front decoration, and cutouts at the waist giving the illusion of a two-piece set. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin illusion-, illusio, from Latin, action of mocking, from illudere to mock at, from in- + ludere to play, mock — more at ludicrous First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b Phrases Containing illusion under the illusion optical illusion under the illusion optical illusion Kids Definition illusion noun il·lu·sion i-ˈlü-zhən 1 : something that is false or unreal but seems to be true or real The video game creates the illusion of flying. 2 : a mistaken idea She had no illusions about her chances of winning. Medical Definition illusion noun il·lu·sion il-ˈü-zhən 1 : a misleading image presented as a visual stimulus 2 a : perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature especially : optical illusion compare delusion sense 2 b : hallucination sense 1 c : a pattern capable of reversible perspective illusion noun 1 as in dream a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality the magician specializes in creating illusions, so that people believe they have seen something when they really haven't Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance dream fantasy delusion daydream vision unreality idea mirage phantasm hallucination chimera imaging nightmare conceit figment phantasy pipe dream fantasm fiction visualization nonentity fancy castle in the air utopia castle in Spain fabrication concoction fable ignis fatuus brainchild cloudland envisaging will-o'-the-wisp invention cloud-cuckoo-land Shangri-la daymare Antonyms & Near Antonyms reality fact actuality 2 as in delusion a false idea or belief he had no illusions about how much effort and money the renovation project would require Synonyms & Similar Words delusion myth error superstition misconception hallucination fallacy misunderstanding falsehood untruth misbelief falsity pretense distortion misperception lie fiction tale old wives' tale misrepresentation misinterpretation misapprehension pretence miscomprehension misinformation inaccuracy misjudgment factoid sophism story misstatement sophistry fib misreport misknowledge half-truth Antonyms & Near Antonyms truth verity Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of illusion are delusion, hallucination, and mirage. While all these words mean "something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal," illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines. an illusion of safety While the synonyms delusion and illusion are close in meaning, delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind. delusions of persecution In some situations, the words hallucination and illusion are roughly equivalent. However, hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs. suffered from terrifying hallucinations The words mirage and illusion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim. claimed a balanced budget is a mirage Phrases Containing illusion optical illusion optical illusion
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illusion

noun

Illustration of illusion

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing illusion

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser

Phrases Containing illusion