allusion

American  

[uh-loo-zhuhn] / əˈlu ʒən /

noun

• allusions
  plural

1. a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication.

   The novel's title is an allusion to Shakespeare.

2. the act of alluding; the making of a casual or indirect reference to something.

   The Bible is a fertile source of allusion in art.

3. Obsolete. a metaphor or parable.

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allusion British  

/ əˈluːʒən /

noun

1. the act of alluding

2. a passing reference; oblique or obscure mention

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allusion Cultural  

1. An indirect reference to some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned. Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. For example, an author who writes, “She was another Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preallusion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• allusions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of allusion

First recorded in 1540–50; Late Latin allūsiōn- (stem of allūsiō ), equivalent to allūs(us), past participle of allūdere ( see allude; al- + lūd- “play” + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

That little nod to a Dylan Thomas poem that you sneaked into your PowerPoint presentation? That was an allusion, a quick reference to something that your audience will have to already know in order to "get." An allusion often references a famous work of art or literature, or to something from your own life. For example, you might say, "I obviously am no expert at love" — an allusion to your failed relationships. The main thing to remember is that an allusion is a brief hint or a quick mention. It’s meant to bring to mind a particular subject, but it always avoids getting into it in great depth.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

allusion allusions

Even in a passing comment where he appeared to reference Yellen, he pointedly did not mention make even an allusion to Powell.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

An intentional allusion wouldn’t be unprecedented for the administration.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026

Paz has so far emphasized the need for dialogue but not ruled out using "constitutional instruments" to end the blockade of La Paz -- an allusion to declaring a state of emergency.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

I’m under no illusion that each and every lyrical allusion to literature will foster a reading revolution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026

I felt a burning glow mount to my face; for bitter and agitating recollections were awakened by the allusion to marriage.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Famous “Bills” are all about: Zane, Shakespeare, Wonka, and “Bill-bo Baggins,” along with allusions to “canceled Bills” like Cosby and Clinton.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

I saw a lot of allusions and references in your lyrics and videos to “trashy icons,” like Lindsay Lohan with the Chanel purse ankle monitor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

Wildly digressive, buzzing with literary allusions and telling its story as a 20th-century Shakespearean tragedy, the book has some of the mad, restless energy of Sellers himself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

"It touched on so much in terms of thematic material and musical material," Kehrer said, pointing to the allusions to decolonization and use of traditional Puerto Rican rhythms.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

I saw allusions in passages that Danny and his father overlooked, and I resolved a contradiction with an appeal to grammar.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

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Related Words

• quotation

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