Illusion

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɪˈluːʒən/, /ɪˈluːzjÉ™n/
• Rhymes: -uːʒən

Origin

From Old French illusion, from Latin illūsiō (""), from illūdere (""), from in- ("at, upon"), + lūdere ("to play, mock, trick")

Full definition of illusion

Noun

1. (countable) Anything that seems to be something that it is not.We saw what looked like a tiger among the trees, but it was an illusion caused by the shadows of the branches.Using artificial additives, scientists can create the illusion of fruit flavours in food.
• 2002, The Flaming Lips, Do You Realize??You realize the sun don't go down it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round.
2. (countable) A misapprehension; a belief in something that is in fact not true.Jane has this illusion that John is in love with her.
3. (countable) A magician’s trick.
4. (uncountable) The state of being deceived or misled.

Synonyms

• (the state of being deceived or misled) misapprehension

Derived terms

• illusionist
• illusory
• optical illusion
• under the illusion that