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illusionism

American  
[ih-loo-zhuh-niz-uhm] / ɪˈlu ʒəˌnɪz əm /

noun

  1. a technique of using pictorial methods in order to deceive the eye.

  2. Philosophy. a theory or doctrine that the material world is an illusion.


illusionism British  
/ ɪˈluːʒəˌnɪzəm /

noun

  1. philosophy the doctrine that the external world exists only in illusory sense perceptions

  2. the use of highly illusory effects in art or decoration, esp the use of perspective in painting to create an impression of three-dimensional reality

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of illusionism

First recorded in 1835–45; illusion + -ism

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.

Amid the false-fronts of Paramount’s New York street movie-set, they’ve installed works loosely connected to themes of illusionism, myth-making and representation in mass entertainment.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2020

Perversely, the expensive CGI achieves the opposite effect of those spandex and leg warmer outfits — it trades real theatricality for slipshod illusionism, pushing you out instead of pulling you in.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2020

The original uniform colors had been restored, and a diorama of three-dimensional plaster figures of soldiers had been placed in front of the painting to enhance 3-D illusionism.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2019

They reduce photography's innate illusionism to fun but facile one-liners.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2018

But illusionism is only one vehicle for expressing an artist’s understanding of reality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

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