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

The 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

Examples 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

Of course, the vanishing act is little more than an optical illusion to stargazers on Earth. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024

So big, photos of Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton carrying their Balenciaga bags look like optical illusions. —Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024

From the front, the style is simultaneously stunning and mindboggling, almost giving an optical illusion effect. —Marci Robin, Allure, 29 Oct. 2024

The dial is rendered in grand feu enamel in a way that creates an optical illusion as the watch moves – the idea is to create the effect of a raindrop falling on the still surface of a pond, with ripples radiating out from the seconds sub-dial. —Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

optical illusion

noun

: illusion sense 1

Medical Definition

optical illusion

noun

: visual perception of a real object in such a way as to misinterpret its actual nature