optical illusion

noun

plural optical illusions
: a misleading image presented to the vision
Zebras look like optical illusions to me. Which are they—black with white stripes or white with black stripes?Al Robinson
The sun, moon, and planets circle above the terrestrial plane in the region of the equator. Their apparent rising and setting is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric refraction …Ranger Rick

Examples of optical illusion in a Sentence

The closer building looks larger than the farther one, but it's just an optical illusion. The two buildings are actually the same size.
Recent Examples on the Web The entire book seems to flip back and forth, like an optical illusion, from literary novel to genre thriller and back again. Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024 Both activities depended on legerdemain and made elaborate use of optical illusions. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 Perhaps the most impressive animation produced for the film is a chase in which Tack trails the thief through a palace filled with optical illusions. Tim Brinkhof, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024 The bodycon look created a striking optical illusion with a green and blue floral print panel on the front that connected with a black fabric on its sides and back. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 20 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for optical illusion 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'optical illusion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of optical illusion was in 1763

Dictionary Entries Near optical illusion

Cite this Entry

“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical%20illusion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

optical illusion

noun

Medical Definition

optical illusion

noun
: visual perception of a real object in such a way as to misinterpret its actual nature

More from Merriam-Webster on optical illusion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!