illusory

adjective

il·​lu·​so·​ry i-ˈlü-sə-rē  -ˈlü-zə- 

-ˈlüs-, 

-ˈlüz-

: based on or producing illusion : deceptive

illusory hopes

an illusory promise

illusorily

i-ˈlü-sə-rə-lē 

-ˈlü-zə-;

-ˈlüs-, 

-ˈlüz-

adverb

illusoriness

i-ˈlü-sə-rē-nəs 

-ˈlü-zə-;

-ˈlüs-, 

-ˈlüz-

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for illusory

apparent, illusory, seeming, ostensible mean not actually being what appearance indicates.

apparent suggests appearance to unaided senses that may or may not be borne out by more rigorous examination or greater knowledge.

the apparent cause of the accident

illusory implies a false impression based on deceptive resemblance or faulty observation, or influenced by emotions that prevent a clear view.

an illusory sense of security

seeming implies a character in the thing observed that gives it the appearance, sometimes through intent, of something else.

the seeming simplicity of the story

ostensible suggests a discrepancy between an openly declared or naturally implied aim or reason and the true one.

the ostensible reason for their visit

Examples of illusory in a Sentence

an illusory sense of security

Recent Examples on the Web

Small, kind routines support stability as beauty-loving Venus is in your 6th House of Work and trines illusory Neptune in your 2nd House of Resources. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026

That is, real, not merely illusory, measures, so that the allure to breach peace for imagined gains is overshadowed. —Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026

Statisticians call it an illusory correlation, maintaining that proponents perceive a predictive relationship when actually non exists. —Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Although the size of the illusory truth effect diminishes thereafter, each additional encounter further strengthens our perception of a claim’s legitimacy, that study found. —Markham Heid, Time, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French illusoire, borrowed from Late Latin illūsōrius "mocking, derisive, deceptive," from Latin illūdere "to make fun of, fool, dupe" + -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor — more at illusion

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

illusory

adjective

il·​lu·​so·​ry il-ˈüs-(ə-)rē 

-ˈüz-

: based on or producing illusion : deceptive

an illusory hope

Medical Definition

illusory

adjective

il·​lu·​so·​ry il-ˈüs-(ə-)rē  -ˈüz- 

: based on or producing illusion : being deceptive

the search for the ultimate cure-all for a hangover has proved illusory

—M. L. Herndon

Legal Definition

illusory

adjective

il·​lu·​so·​ry i-ˈlü-sə-rē, -zə-rē 

: likely to mislead or deceive : false, deceptive

an illusory plea bargain leading to a longer sentence than expected