Illusory describessays what a person or thing is like something that seems real, true, or possible, but is not. It is often used for hopes, promises, or impressionsideas or feelings formed from what you notice that turn out to be misleadinggiving a wrong idea and leading someone to believe something false.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-07. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Illusory Meaning
seeming real but actually false or not reliable
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: based on or having the nature of an illusion
Example: The plan gave them an illusory sense of security.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- illusive — A close synonym in this sense, meaning based on illusion or misleadingly unreal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-07. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Illusory Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- illusive
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-07. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using illusory to mean simply 'imaginary' when the stronger idea is that something only appears real or possible.
- Confusing illusory with 'delusory'; illusory describes the thing or impression, not necessarily the person holding the belief.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-07. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does illusory mean in simple English?
It means something looks real or possible, but it is not.
What is a synonym for illusory?
A close synonym is illusive.
Is illusory negative?
Usually yes, because it suggests a false appearance or a promise that will not come true.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-07. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.