apophenia

American  

[ap-uh-fe-nee-uh, ap-uh-fee-nee-uh] / ˌæp əˈfɛ ni ə, ˌæp əˈfi ni ə /

noun

1. Psychology. the tendency to perceive meaningful patterns or connections where there are none.

---

Example Sentences

Scientists call this tendency to find meaningful patterns in randomness "apophenia."

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

The believability of a false narrative is reinforced by what psychologists call apophenia, defined as the proclivity to perceive meaningful connections among unrelated things.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023

More importantly, I learned how easy it is to fool yourself into perceiving a pattern where none exists — a phenomenon called apophenia, "the condition of seeing or imagining patterns in random occurrences."

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2022

It is as if they are instructing her in the art of apophenia, or illusory pattern-finding.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2014

Brain imaging studies by Brugger and his colleagues hint that garden-variety apophenia may result from overactivation of the brain’s right hemisphere.

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2014