illusive

American  

[ih-loo-siv] / ɪˈlu sɪv /

adjective

1. illusory.

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Other Word Forms

• illusively adverb
• illusiveness noun
• nonillusive adjective
• nonillusively adverb
• nonillusiveness noun
• unillusive adjective

Etymology

Origin of illusive

First recorded in 1670–80; illus(ory) + -ive

Explanation

If something misleads or deceives you, it is illusive. If you think you see a unicorn in your back yard, but it suddenly disappears, you can describe the vision as illusive. Illusive comes from illusion, an old, old word that originally meant "to mock, to make fun of, to trick." Magicians make great use of illusions, but while someone can be deliberately illusive, the word does not always imply that that someone means to mislead you. Some things, like truth, are illusive by nature; others, like the past, become hazy through time.

Example Sentences

These intersecting stories mostly take place over Feb. 29, a fittingly illusive day.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

Officials, lawmakers and victims groups have grown frustrated that an explanation remains illusive.

From New York Times • Jun. 24, 2022

Aoun said that the Salameh brothers and a Ukrainian citizen had formed three illusive companies in France to buy property there.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2022

"Every student stepping on campus this upcoming semester will be fully vaccinated with boosters, unless they have received one of the University’s illusive exemptions," Luke Bunting and Elana Quint, co-presidents of the group, wrote.

From Fox News • Jan. 17, 2022

There were no shadows under the trees but everywhere a pearly stillness, so that what was real seemed illusive and without definition.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding