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
Day and night aren't exactly 12 hours on the day of the equinox because the Earth's atmosphere refracts, or bends, light in an optical illusion that brings more daylight than there really is.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025
Rag & Bone’s revolutionary printing technique, Miramar, creates an optical illusion that makes any material look like denim.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
On social media, it’s been described as grandma’s bathroom tile floor, an optical illusion and a magic eye poster.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
When viewing the artwork, the colors vibrate and create an optical illusion.
—Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optical illusion
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Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025
Rag & Bone’s revolutionary printing technique, Miramar, creates an optical illusion that makes any material look like denim.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2025
On social media, it’s been described as grandma’s bathroom tile floor, an optical illusion and a magic eye poster.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
When viewing the artwork, the colors vibrate and create an optical illusion.
—Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 28 Feb. 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 25 Mar. 2025.
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