allusion

American  

[uh-loo-zhuhn] / əˈlu ʒən /

noun

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

• preallusion noun

Etymology

Origin of allusion

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

Example Sentences

And he has done so with a light-fingered insouciance that makes every scene incandescent with funny contemporary allusions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sports fans, however, will find specific allusions, like contentious press conferences and even the kiss cam.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the band’s central tunes is “Together,” an allusion to Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

He might hope the odd allusion jogs a memory; no more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• quotation