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
Al RobinsonThe 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
Ranger RickExamples 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
Known for surrealistic designs and sculptural shapes, Harri transformed mostly wide-leg jeans into optical illusions with through prints and gradients.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
The five-foot-five star basically performed an optical illusion to take up nearly six feet of vertical space.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2025
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours long on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that results in more daylight.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Analysts later determined the object was likely a weather balloon and that the apparent velocity was an optical illusion caused by parallax.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
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Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
The five-foot-five star basically performed an optical illusion to take up nearly six feet of vertical space.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2025
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours long on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that results in more daylight.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Analysts later determined the object was likely a weather balloon and that the apparent velocity was an optical illusion caused by parallax.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical%20illusion. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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