trompe l'oeil

noun

(ˌ)trȯmp-ˈlȯi  (ˌ)trȯmp-ˈlə-ē  trōⁿp-ˈlœi 

often attributive

1

: a style of painting in which objects are depicted with photographically realistic detail

also : the use of similar technique in interior decorating

2

: a trompe l'oeil painting or effect

3

: something that misleads or deceives the senses : illusion

Examples of trompe l'oeil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tenaya Taylor brought bold glamour to the red carpet Taylor, meanwhile, brought bold style to the red carpet in a trompe l'oeil dress. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026

Chappell Roan's custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas was a trompe l'oeil design inspired by a number from the 1996 Mugler runway ... —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 2 Feb. 2026

There was Amy Fine Collins in a smart cardigan and a white tee with a trompe l'oeil necktie. —Nick Remsen, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025

The ultimate trompe l'oeil, sweatpant jeans are printed to look like denim, but they're made from soft materials like cotton and fleece. —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French trompe-l'œil, literally, deceives the eye

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trompe l'oeil

• bibliophile
• epicondyle
• geotextile
• nucleophile
• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle