illusionist
Americannoun
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a conjurer or magician who creates illusions, as by sleight of hand.
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an adherent of illusionism.
noun
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a person given to illusions; visionary; dreamer
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philosophy a person who believes in illusionism
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an artist who practises illusionism
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a conjuror; magician
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of illusionist
Explanation
An illusionist is a magician, a person who performs stage magic to entertain audiences. The teenager on the sidewalk who does amazing card tricks for tips is an illusionist. Harry Houdini might be the most famous illusionist, specializing in escaping from what appeared to be impossible situations like being handcuffed and submerged in water. Other illusionists stick to pulling rabbits out of hats and quarters out of kids' ears. The earliest meaning of illusionist was "one who suffers from illusions," though it soon came to mean "one who creates illusions." The Latin root, illudere, means "to mock" or "to play at."
Vocabulary lists containing illusionist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This year it added the Illusionists magic troupe to its portfolio.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2019
“The Illusionists — Turn of the Century ” has landed at the Palace Theatre with eight new acts.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2016
Yet the year ended on a high as several shows, including Aladdin and The Illusionists, broke theatre records.
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2016
Illusionists flown in from Spain, flowers imported from France, or an R&B superstar flown in from the United States.
From Forbes • Dec. 26, 2014
Therefore does Krishna's name fail to rise to his lips; the Illusionists are mere Phenomenalists.
From Chaitanya's Life And Teachings From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita by K???ad?sa Kavir?ja Gosv?mi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
