Allusion
An indirect reference or mention of something, often to a person, event, or literary work, without explicitly naming it.
nounAllusion
An indirect reference or mention of something, often to a person, event, or literary work, without explicitly naming it.
nounImagine This
Jack, the magician, not only tricks the eyes of his audience by illusion; he also tricks others’ ears when he is off stage. He refers things indirectly, never telling the straightforward fact, which makes people wonder what he means.
Sounds Like
uh-LOO-zhən
Looks Like
Looks similar to 'illusion' in spelling; the ending -usion is shared, but 'allusion' has an 'all-' prefix indicating reference rather than deception.
Remember This
Allusion is a subtle, indirect reference—remember that 'allude' means to refer indirectly, and 'allusion' is the noun form of that action.
Other Forms
Connect With
reference, mention, hint, implication, indirectness, alluding
Note
An allusion is not a direct quotation; it requires the reader to recognize the reference. Be careful not to confuse allusion with illusion, which is a misperception or deceptive appearance.