illustration

[il-uh-strey-shuhn]

noun

1. something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.

2. a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

   Synonyms: explication

3. the act or process of illuminating.

4. the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.

5. Archaic.,  illustriousness; distinction.

illustration

/ ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text

2. an example or demonstration

   an illustration of his ability

3. the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated

Other Word Forms

• illustrational adjective
• nonillustration noun
• overillustration noun
• preillustration noun
• reillustration noun
• superillustration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustration¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō ) “the act of making vivid, illustrating”; illustrate, -ion

Synonym Study

See case ¹.

Example Sentences

It is an illustration of the different audiences the chancellor needs this Budget to appeal to.

Read more on BBC

Your local bakery almost certainly makes pies that look like they’ve been lifted from a vintage cookbook illustration.

Read more on Salon

This transition can be traced in “Icons of the Fantastic,” a catalog of Stephen Korshak’s superlative collection of fantasy illustrations from the past 160 years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pulp magazines that featured 20th-century fantasy and science fiction were fronted by illustrations that could be laughable or lurid.

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Packed with illustrations and full of attractions on every page, these selections will delight readers of all ages and interests.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cartoon 
• decoration 
• depiction 
• engraving 
• etching 
• image 
• painting 
• photo 
• photograph 
• picture 
• sketch 
• snapshot 
• vignette