illustration

American  

[il-uh-strey-shuhn] / ˌɪl əˈstreɪ ʃən /

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.

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illustration British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See case ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of illustration

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

Explanation

When the written instructions get tough, look for an illustration — a picture — to figure out what to do. Assembling furniture? Numbered diagrams and other illustrations can help you avoid the dreaded pile of "leftover" pieces. An illustration can also be a helpful example that isn't visual at all. A coworker who comes to work with a terrible cold and gives it to the whole office is an illustration of what happens when a boss discourages the use of sick days. You hope that the boss isn't an illustration of management at that company! If so, maybe these workers do need a visual: an illustration that shows hand-washing techniques and other ways to avoid germs.

Example Sentences

The dating test furnishes a neat illustration: three profiles—identical in every respect except astrological sign, all showing the same picture of a young man named “Michael”—were created on a popular Chinese dating app.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

But it revealed enough to be a useful illustration of what’s changed since the debut of ChatGPT.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

It is a moving illustration of how a space can hold and contain — feel safe — while also holding an open sense of possibility.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

For illustration, $1,900 is currently the average individual monthly Social Security payment.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

This poem was accompanied by an illustration of a black bird almost exactly like the one used in place of the seagull in the Bayside Press symbol.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

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