What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
misperception
Example
Her misperception of the situation led to a lot of confusion. [misperception: noun]
Example
He misperceived her intentions and ended up offending her. [misperceived: past tense verb]
delusion
Example
He was suffering from delusions of grandeur and believed he was a famous actor. [delusions: plural noun]
Example
She had a delusional belief that everyone was out to get her. [delusional: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Misperception is more commonly used in everyday language than delusion. Misperception can be used in various contexts, while delusion is typically associated with mental illness and used in more formal or clinical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between misperception and delusion?
Delusion is a more formal and clinical term than misperception, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.