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

"The recent bank holiday weekend provided an illustration of volatile public sentiment on this topic on social media," Wareing said.

From BBC

Remove the veil of folklore, and the plot isn’t too different from Oliphant’s career as an unrestrained cartoonist, whose satirical illustrations drew the ire of power-hungry politicians and like-minded megalomaniacs all over the world.

From Salon

She worked on window displays and murals for department store Lord & Taylor and did fashion illustrations for Condé Nast.

From Los Angeles Times

There are many illustrations of how curious Martin's decision-making is right now, and the sudden praise for a captain he has dropped is part of it.

From BBC

The trophy features many nods from the 60-year-old musician, including a hand-drawn “cresting wave” illustration and an arrow and mod symbol — an allusion to Vedder’s tribute to the Who on his personal guitar.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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