What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hallucination
Example
He experienced a hallucination of a giant spider crawling on the wall. [hallucination: noun]
Example
The drug caused him to hallucinate vividly. [hallucinate: verb]
illusion
Example
The magician created an illusion of a disappearing rabbit. [illusion: noun]
Example
She had the illusion that she was being followed. [illusion: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Illusion is more commonly used than hallucination in everyday language. Illusion is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hallucination is less common and often associated with mental illness or drug use.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hallucination and illusion?
While hallucination is typically associated with a more formal or medical tone, illusion is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
