English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

illumination

ih-loo-mih-NAY-shuhn
Quiz me More like this

Illumination (noun) means Light, or the act of providing light. Example: “The stage lighting provided dramatic illumination during the final scene.”

noun
1
Light, or the act of providing light.
"The stage lighting provided dramatic illumination during the final scene."
2
Ornamental decoration added to a manuscript or book.
"The gold-leaf illumination on the page had survived remarkably well."
3
A moment of insight or understanding.
"Her explanation brought sudden illumination to a topic he'd struggled with for years."

How to use illumination

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLight itself, or figuratively, a flash of understanding.

Common pairings
festive illumination moment of illumination
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like illumination.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
illuminations
Test yourself on “illumination” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The stage lighting provided dramatic _____ during the final scene.

Etymology

From Latin illuminatio, from illuminare, "to light up."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for illumination

See all rhymes for illumination →

Frequently asked questions

What does “illumination” mean?
The word “illumination” means light, or the act of providing light. In plain terms, light itself, or figuratively, a flash of understanding.
How do you pronounce “illumination”?
“Illumination” is pronounced ih-loo-mih-NAY-shuhn (/ɪˌlumɪˈneɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “illumination” in a sentence?
Here is “illumination” used in a sentence: “The stage lighting provided dramatic illumination during the final scene.”
What is another word for “illumination”?
Words with a similar meaning to “illumination” include lumination.
What part of speech is “illumination”?
“Illumination” is a noun.
Where does the word “illumination” come from?
The word “illumination” comes from Latin. From Latin illuminatio, from illuminare, "to light up.".
Is “illumination” a common word?
“Illumination” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “illumination” have?
“Illumination” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: light, or the act of providing light.

Featured in

People also searched