illusion
Americannoun
-
something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.
- Synonyms:
- chimera, fantasy, aberration
-
the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.
-
an instance of being deceived.
-
Psychology. a perception, as of visual stimuli optical illusion, that represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality.
-
a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.
-
Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.
noun
-
a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality
the mirror gives an illusion of depth
-
a false or misleading perception or belief; delusion
he has the illusion that he is really clever
-
psychol a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiver See also hallucination
-
a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc
Related Words
illusion, hallucination, delusion refer to false perceptions or ideas. An illusion is a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually exist: A mirage is an illusion produced by reflection of light against the sky. A hallucination is a perception of a thing or quality that has no physical counterpart: Under the influence of LSD, Terry had hallucinations that the living-room floor was rippling. A delusion is a persistent false belief: A paranoiac has delusions of persecution.
Other Word Forms
- illusionary adjective
- illusioned adjective
Etymology
Origin of illusion
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English from Latin illūsiōn- (stem of illūsiō ) “irony, mocking,” equivalent to illūs(us), past participle of illūdere “to mock, ridicule” ( il- il- 1 + lūd- play ( ludicrous ) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
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.
The illusion of recovery is sustained so long as the stories continue.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
They explore how Top Model’s central promise—a fast track to a career in the fashion industry—was ultimately an illusion used to make great television at the expense of the contestants.
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
“But that connection isn’t a replacement for human connection. It gives the illusion of being close, but without real interpersonal interaction.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
Scotland fans on social media have compared the new away jersey to the optical illusion dress that became an internet sensation in 2015.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
“Only an extremely powerful magician could’ve pulled off an illusion of that size without realizing it.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
