Illustration of illusion
- a and b are equal in length
illusion
noun
il·lu·sion
i-ˈlü-zhən
plural illusions
1
a(1)
: a misleading image presented to the vision : optical illusion
a technique that creates the illusion of space
(2)
: something that deceives or misleads intellectually
the statements with their supposed profits were all an illusion
(3)
: an illusory effect created by a sleight-of-hand performer or a magician
b(1)
: perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature
(2)
(3)
: a pattern capable of reversible perspective
2
a(1)
: the state or fact of being intellectually deceived or misled : misapprehension
was under the illusion that he was the best player
(2)
: an instance of such deception
had/harbored no illusions about the difficulty of the task
b
obsolete
: the action of deceiving
3
: a fine plain transparent bobbinet or tulle usually made of silk and used for veils, trimmings, and dresses
Did you know?
Allusion and Illusion
Allusion and illusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin word ludere, meaning “to play”), and sound quite similar, but they are distinct words with very different meanings. An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect. Each of the nouns has a related verb form: allude “to refer indirectly to,” and illude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.”
Cite this Entry
“Illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illusion. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.
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