allusion

noun
UK: /əˈluː.ʒən/
US: /əˈluː.ʒən/

  1. An indirect reference to something, often another text or historical event.

    1. The poem makes an allusion to classical mythology. [ ] [ ]
    2. Her speech contained an allusion to a famous political scandal, which everyone recognized. [ ] [ ]

  2. A hint or implied reference meant to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly.

    1. The movie has an allusion to a popular fairy tale. [ ] [ ]
    2. The novel's title is an allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet, setting a somber mood. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

intimation reference hint implication suggestion

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "allusion" in English means: An indirect reference to something, often another text or historical event., A hint or implied reference meant to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly..

The phonetic transcription of "allusion" is /əˈluː.ʒən/ in British English and /əˈluː.ʒən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "allusion": intimation, reference, hint, implication, suggestion.

Example usage of "allusion": "The poem makes an allusion to classical mythology.". More examples on the page.