1
: an optical (see optical sense 2a) effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, that may have the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted, and that is caused by the bending or reflection of rays of light by a layer of heated air of varying density
2
: something illusory and unattainable like a mirage
A peaceful solution proved to be a mirage.
Examples of mirage in a Sentence
A peaceful solution proved to be a mirage.
Recent Examples on the Web
The technological barriers that were supposed to protect America’s AI dominance, from advanced chips to massive data centers, are more mirage than fortress.
—
Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Feb. 2025
Too bad for them, and for us, the series’ main plot conceit is indeed a mirage, a fake-out trick that crumbles upon closer inspection and isn’t developed enough.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
But other experts say this image of resilience is a mirage – one carefully curated by the Kremlin to make its adversaries think Russia’s economy is in good shape.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
Like a mirage, an enigmatic gardener (Erkan Kolçak Köstendil) enters the frame with a proposition Ali can’t refuse, or maybe willed into being himself.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025
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Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Feb. 2025
Too bad for them, and for us, the series’ main plot conceit is indeed a mirage, a fake-out trick that crumbles upon closer inspection and isn’t developed enough.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025
But other experts say this image of resilience is a mirage – one carefully curated by the Kremlin to make its adversaries think Russia’s economy is in good shape.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
Like a mirage, an enigmatic gardener (Erkan Kolçak Köstendil) enters the frame with a proposition Ali can’t refuse, or maybe willed into being himself.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mirage
Dictionary Entries Near mirage
Cite this Entry
“Mirage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirage. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mirage
noun
mi·rage
mə-ˈräzh 
: an illusion that gives the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted, that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, and that is caused by the bending or reflection of light passing through layers of air having different temperatures
Medical Definition
mirage
noun
mi·rage
mə-ˈräzh
: an optical effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, that may have the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted, and that is caused by the bending or reflection of rays of light by a layer of heated air of varying density
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