illusionist

noun

il·​lu·​sion·​ist i-ˈlü-zh(ə-)nist 

: a person who produces illusory effects: such as

a

: a sleight-of-hand performer or a magician

b

: one (such as an artist) whose work is marked by illusionism

illusionistic

i-ˌlü-zhə-ˈni-stik 

adjective

illusionistically

i-ˌlü-zhə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• conjurer
• conjuror
• magician
• prestidigitator
• trickster

Examples of illusionist in a Sentence

tried to figure out how the illusionist made his assistant disappear from the stage

Recent Examples on the Web

More than anything, there was a level of fatigue that left him questioning whether Derren Brown, the famous UK TV illusionist, had secretly popped in to hypnotise him. —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 9 May 2025

Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket Three illusionist acts — Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco and the UK duo Young & Strange — combine for an onslaught of the incredible at Foxwood’s Great Cedar Showroom. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025

Back in 2011, the illusionist Derren Brown released a four-part series for Channel 4 called The Experiments. —Daisy Jones, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025

As a refresher, the series focuses on the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco and Fisher). —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

illusionist

noun

il·​lu·​sion·​ist i-ˈlü-zhə-nist 

: a person who produces illusions

especially : a performer of sleight of hand or a magician