illustration

American  

[il-uh-stray-shuhn] / ˌɪl əˈstreɪ ʃən /

noun

• illustrations
  plural

1. something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.

2. a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

   Synonyms:

   explication

3. the act or process of illuminating.

4. the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.

5. Archaic. illustriousness; distinction.

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illustration British  

/ ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text

2. an example or demonstration

   an illustration of his ability

3. the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated

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Synonym Usage

See case ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonillustration
  noun
• overillustration
  noun
• preillustration
  noun
• reillustration
  noun
• superillustration
  noun
• illustrational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• illustrations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of illustration

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō ) “the act of making vivid, illustrating”; see illustrate, -ion

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Explanation

When the written instructions get tough, look for an illustration — a picture — to figure out what to do. Assembling furniture? Numbered diagrams and other illustrations can help you avoid the dreaded pile of "leftover" pieces. An illustration can also be a helpful example that isn't visual at all. A coworker who comes to work with a terrible cold and gives it to the whole office is an illustration of what happens when a boss discourages the use of sick days. You hope that the boss isn't an illustration of management at that company! If so, maybe these workers do need a visual: an illustration that shows hand-washing techniques and other ways to avoid germs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

illustration illustrations

His detractors recoiled at the ostentatious displays, questioned the origins of his money and his political connections, and saw his lifestyle as a stark illustration of inequality.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

The market’s bounce from its October low is therefore a classic illustration of contrarian analysis.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

The brain's microscopic wiring may need a different kind of textbook illustration.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

Subway cars and burned-out streets don’t require much in the way of elaborate illustration for the overhang of menace to be felt.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

The shape of the hill and the skull pattern of the stones both matched the illustration perfectly.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Charmingly detailed black-and-white illustrations by Chloe Bristol complement the book’s warmhearted tone—for despite its potentially gloomy premise, “The Lost Three” is far from morose.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Like most made-for-TV illustrations, these fantasies didn’t reflect life for most people, and certainly not working-class families with two working parents.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026

If you aim to walk around the striking building to view a mishmash of masterpieces, children’s illustrations, movie memorabilia that’s heavy on “Star Wars” and comic strips, you’ll have a good time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

But it goes even further with deluxe editions that have custom illustrations or come packaged in rare or unexpected materials—including wooden planks from a ship John Steinbeck once sailed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

“But I’ve seen a few illustrations of the Eye, and your necklace looks like it. Perhaps it’s a replica.”

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

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Related Words

• cartoon
• decoration
• depiction
• engraving
• etching
• image
• painting
• photo
• photograph
• picture
• sketch
• snapshot
• vignette

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