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.”
delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.
delusions of persecution
illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.
an illusion of safety
hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.
suffered from terrifying hallucinations
mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.
claimed a balanced budget is a mirage
Examples of illusion in a Sentence
The video game is designed to give the illusion that you are in control of an airplane.
They used paint to create the illusion of metal.
She says that all progress is just an illusion.
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Trust your intuition, but don’t let illusions cloud your judgment.—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 May 2025 In lieu of a pricey pieces, upholster a simple headboard and use the same fabric for the bed skirt to give the illusion of a completely custom bed frame for a fraction of the price.—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 1 May 2025 That the Royals have managed to tread water through 29 games has the illusion of keeping them near last year’s pace of an eventual postseason team.—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2025 But best practices are often just the lowest common denominator, a one-size-fits-all illusion of safety that gives us someone to blame when things go wrong.—Denis Mandich, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for illusion
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin illusion-, illusio, from Latin, action of mocking, from illudere to mock at, from in- + ludere to play, mock — more at ludicrous
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