illusion

American  

[ih-loo-zhuhn] / ɪˈlu ʒən /

noun

1. something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

   Synonyms:

   chimera, fantasy, aberration

2. the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.

3. an instance of being deceived.

4. 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.

5. a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.

6. Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.

---

illusion British  

/ ɪˈluːʒən /

noun

1. a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality

   the mirror gives an illusion of depth

2. a false or misleading perception or belief; delusion

   he has the illusion that he is really clever

3. 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

4. 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

The illusion awakens him to a new means of looking at “nature and culture, the given and the constructed,” wherein these supposed binaries collapse together and exist simultaneously.

From The Wall Street Journal

A drive-in sits in the center of a huge clearing, the surrounding trees blocking out the town’s bustling sounds and creating the illusion that we’re far away.

From Literature

Clare toed the floor in front of him, grateful to find that the appearance of water was, indeed, an illusion.

From Literature

“It was like a magic show where the illusion is happening in front of us,” said R. Rao, a 45-year-old accountant from the southern city of Udupi who was a victim.

From The Wall Street Journal

Writing in a local cafe is not only cheaper—the price of a café au lait—but also offers the illusion of companionship without any of its intrusions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• confusion
• deception
• delusion
• fantasy
• hallucination
• image
• misconception
• myth
• pipe dream
• semblance