illusion

[ ih-loo-zhuhn ]

noun

1. something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

   Synonyms: chimera, fantasy, aberration

2. the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.
3. an instance of being deceived.
4. Psychology. a perception, as of visual stimuli optical illusion, that represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality.
5. a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.
6. Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.

illusion

/ ɪˈluːʒən /

noun

1. a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality

   the mirror gives an illusion of depth

2. a false or misleading perception or belief; delusion

   he has the illusion that he is really clever

3. See hallucination
   psychol a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiver See also hallucination
4. a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc

Derived Forms

• ilˈlusionary, adjective
• ilˈlusioned, adjective

Other Words From

• il·lusioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illusion¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English from Latin illūsiōn- (stem of illūsiō ) “irony, mocking,” equivalent to illūs(us), past participle of illūdere “to mock, ridicule” ( il- il- ¹ + lūd- play ( ludicrous ) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of illusion¹

C14: from Latin illūsiō deceit, from illūdere; see illude

Synonym Study

illusion, hallucination, delusion refer to false perceptions or ideas. An illusion is a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually exist: A mirage is an illusion produced by reflection of light against the sky. A hallucination is a perception of a thing or quality that has no physical counterpart: Under the influence of LSD, Terry had hallucinations that the living-room floor was rippling. A delusion is a persistent false belief: A paranoiac has delusions of persecution.

Example Sentences

Because tech stocks have been soaring to new highs lately, investors should have no illusions about the cost of the shares they’re considering buying.

From Fortune

To give my students the illusion of eye contact, I learned to stare at the green light on my MacBook Air.

From MIT Technology Review

Several more recent studies conducted on individuals living in war and earthquake zones mirror Sosis’ finding that rituals give participants a sense — or a comforting illusion — of control over the uncontrollable.

From Science News

The team wanted the site to look as Mars-like as possible, no factories, footprints or foliage to break the illusion.

From Science News

We should be looking at these if we have any illusions of sending kids back to school.

From FiveThirtyEight

Traditional coach seats gave the illusion of comfortable padding but were angular, not reflecting body shapes.

From The Daily Beast

And we are under no illusion that this state of affairs is confined to one battalion.

From The Daily Beast

You said, “freedom of speech is an illusion” and “freedom of assembly is an illusion.”

From The Daily Beast

Democracy is an illusion, freedom of speech is an illusion, freedom of assembly is an illusion.

From The Daily Beast

On the surface, In Situ appears less disruptive than its alternative, but this is only an illusion.

From The Daily Beast

But the growing crops are too cleanly and carefully weeded and too uniformly good to protract the illusion.

From Project Gutenberg

All this I admit to be the fever of the mind—a waking dream—an illusion to which mesmerism or magic is but a frivolity.

From Project Gutenberg

The burning atmosphere, the motionless air caused doubtless the optical illusion.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor wilt thou rest forever, weary heart.The last illusion is destroyed,That I eternal thought.

From Project Gutenberg

From the first entrance, to the last cry of triumph or despair, the illusion was perfect.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confusion
• deception
• delusion
• fantasy
• hallucination
• image
• misconception
• myth
• pipe dream
• semblance