illusionist

noun

il·​lu·​sion·​ist i-ˈlü-zh(ə-)nist How to pronounce illusionist (audio)
: 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 adjective
illusionistically adverb

Example Sentences

tried to figure out how the illusionist made his assistant disappear from the stage
Recent Examples on the Web The museum contains the largest collection of Houdini artifacts in the world, including his water torture cell and metamorphosis trunk, as well as the only known recording of the illusionist’s voice, as preserved on Edison wax cylinders. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2020 Deception from 2018 was an interesting twist on the usual weekly crime show with a lead that's an illusionist who is recruited by the FBI. Jacob Linden, Country Living, 7 Feb. 2023 During a recent episode of the NBC series, Asia's Got Talent season 2 winner and illusionist The Sacred Riana stepped onto the stage to vie for a spot in the global competition. Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 28 Jan. 2023 Some combination of stunt-person, illusionist, actor, detective, and circus performer. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 23 Feb. 2022 The great bowerbird is both architect and illusionist. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2010 Yet Lena, the wheelchair-using daughter of the show’s illusionist, eschews magic in favor of science. Monitor Reviewers, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2022 Victor is a Romanian magician and illusionist, and Wednesday is his first acting role. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 30 Nov. 2022 Harry Houdini, the remarkable illusionist who stunned international audiences with his death-defying escape act, was shackled eternally by the Grim Reaper on this Halloween in history, Oct. 31, 1926. Kerry J. Byrne, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'illusionist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of illusionist was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near illusionist

Cite this Entry

“Illusionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illusionist. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

illusionist

noun
il·​lu·​sion·​ist i-ˈlü-zhə-nist How to pronounce illusionist (audio)
: a person who produces illusions
especially : a performer of sleight of hand or a magician

More from Merriam-Webster on illusionist

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