allusion

noun

al·​lu·​sion ə-ˈlü-zhən How to pronounce allusion (audio)
1
: an implied or indirect reference especially in literature
a poem that makes allusions to classical literature
also : the use of such references
2
: the act of making an indirect reference to something : the act of alluding to something

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What is the word origin of allusion?

An allusion is not a play on words—that would be a pun—but allusion does come from the Latin verb allūdere, which in turn combines the verb lūdere, meaning “play,” with the prefix ad-, which can mean “to,” “toward,” or “near.” One way of thinking about an allusion—an indirect reference, especially (though not exclusively) as used in literature—is that it “plays toward or around” something rather than naming it directly. For example, Picnic, Lightning, the title of a book by poet Billy Collins, is an allusion to a line from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita. This allusion—like most—works on the assumption that there is a body of knowledge shared by the author and reader and that therefore the reader will understand the reference. Don’t be misled by the similar pronunciation and spelling of allusion and illusion, however. You wouldn’t be the first, but the latter—which also comes from lūdere—refers to something that is visually or otherwise misleading.

Did you know?

Allusion and Illusion

Allusion and illusion may share some portion of their ancestry (both words come in part from the Latin word ludere, meaning “to play”), and sound quite similar, but they are distinct words with very different meanings. An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect. Each of the nouns has a related verb form: allude “to refer indirectly to,” and illude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.”

Examples of allusion in a Sentence

There are lots of literary echoes and allusions in the novel, but they don't do anything for the tired texture of the prose. Tony Tanner, New York Times Book Review, 6 Apr. 1997
So while the former engineering professor with an IQ reportedly tipping 180 enjoys bombarding his staff with math wizardry, scientific jargon and computerese, he also drops frequent allusions to his baseball card and stamp collections … Maureen Dowd, New York Times Magazine, 16 Sept. 1990
To my ear this is a beautiful reenactment of the prose of the antebellum South, with its careful grammar, its stately cadences, and its classical allusions and quotations. Cleanth Brooks, The Language of the American South, 1985
The lyrics contain biblical allusions. She made allusion to her first marriage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Read More: How the U.S. Can Win the New Cold War The historical allusion is fitting in an era of U.S.-China relations that a range of political commentators agree amounts to a new Cold War. Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made By History, TIME, 10 Mar. 2025 The IndieWire review cited the nods to 1970s New Wave Australian cinema, especially with its aesthetic allusions to Peter Weir and George Miller. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2025 Image Her early New York work was similar to Mr. Wesley’s — hard-edge and minimal, but representational, and funny, with allusions to gender politics. Will Heinrich, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2025 Here, the actor’s deep part and polished waves offer an allusion to Old Hollywood glamour. 25. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allusion

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin allūsiōn-, allūsiō, from Latin allūdere "to play or romp beside, make a playful allusion to" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at allude

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of allusion was in 1542

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Cite this Entry

“Allusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allusion. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

allusion

noun
al·​lu·​sion ə-ˈlü-zhən How to pronounce allusion (audio)
: a reference made to something that is not directly mentioned
the book contains many allusions to earlier books
allusive adjective
allusively adverb
allusiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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