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illusion

noun

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

plural illusions

Synonyms ofillusion next

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)

:hallucinationsense 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

Illustration ofillusion

a andb are equal in length

Did you know?

Allusion andIllusion

Allusion andillusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin wordludere, 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,” andillude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.”

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Choose the Right Synonym forillusion

delusion,illusion,hallucination,mirage mean something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal.

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

illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.

anillusion of safety

hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.

suffered from terrifyinghallucinations

mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.

claimed a balanced budget is amirage

Examples ofillusion in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Call it pixie dust, projection,illusion, artifice — who really cares?—

Teri Sforza,Oc Register, 11 July 2025Theillusionis caused by the moon being seen close to the horizon, where trees and buildings give the human brain context.—

Jamie Carter,Forbes.com, 11 July 2025Some choose complacency — seduced by comfort and theillusionthat someone else will do the hard work of changing things.—

F. Willis Johnson,Twin Cities, 10 July 2025The moon will appear low in the night sky this week, giving it an unnaturally large appearance known as the moonillusion.—

Jenna Prestininzi,Freep.com, 9 July 2025See All Example Sentences forillusion

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latinillusion-, illusio, from Latin, action of mocking, fromilludere to mock at, fromin- +ludere to play, mock — more atludicrous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined atsense 2b

Time Traveler

The first known use ofillusion was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century