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
The 1980s brought an interest in the Necker cube, an optical illusion in which a two-dimensional drawing of a cube is perceived as having three dimensions and two possible spatial orientations.
—News Desk, Artforum, 24 Apr. 2025
Rewind one year and this reality would seem like an odd attempt at an optical illusion.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Horse Walking In Snow Creates Optical Illusion By Soo Kim
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
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A video showing an unexpected optical illusion captured in a parking lot in Florida has gone viral on TikTok.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Include sculptural elements Remember the famous optical illusion Rubin’s vase?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
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News Desk, Artforum, 24 Apr. 2025
Rewind one year and this reality would seem like an odd attempt at an optical illusion.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Horse Walking In Snow Creates Optical Illusion By Soo Kim
Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
A video showing an unexpected optical illusion captured in a parking lot in Florida has gone viral on TikTok.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Include sculptural elements Remember the famous optical illusion Rubin’s vase?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 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 May. 2025.
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