noun

allusion

uh-LOO-zhun

Allusion (noun) means an indirect reference to something — a person, event or work — that the audience is expected to recognise without it being named outright. Example: “The title is an allusion to Paradise Lost.”

noun

An indirect reference to something — a person, event or work — that the audience is expected to recognise without it being named outright.

"The title is an allusion to Paradise Lost."

How to Use Allusion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hint at something without naming it directly.

Memory tip

ALLusion refers; ILLusion deceives.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

illusion → elusion reference →

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The title is an _____ to Paradise Lost.

Etymology

From Latin "alludere," to play with or hint at, from "ad-" (to) plus "ludere" (to play).

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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reference hint suggestion

Related Words

idea character sign address advice wind reference suggest

Rhymes for allusion

region billion ablation emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension oxidation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an allusion?

A passing, indirect reference to something the reader is expected to know — a myth, a book, a historical event — used to bring its associations along without spelling them out.

What is the difference between allusion and illusion?

They sound alike but are unrelated. An allusion is an indirect reference. An illusion is something that deceives the senses. An "elusion" — avoidance — is a third, rarer word.

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