Added 9 October 2026
illusion
/ɪˈl(j)uːʒ(ə)n/ noun
In Latin: praestīgiae Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about illusion at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A distortion of sensory perception where real stimuli lead to a false or misleading impression of reality.
We saw what looked like a tiger among the trees, but it was an illusion caused by the shadows of the branches.
-
A misapprehension; a belief in something that is in fact not true.
Jane has this illusion that John is in love with her.
- A magician’s trick.
Origin
From Old French illusion, from Latin illūsiō, from illūdere, from in- (“at, upon”) + lūdere (“to play, mock, trick”). Displaced native Old English dwimmer.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)