illusory

adjective
UK: /ɪˈluː.sə.ri/
US: /ɪˈluː.sɔː.ri/

  1. Based on illusion; not real.

    1. The hope of an easy profit proved illusory.
    2. Their apparent wealth was illusory, masking a mountain of debt; the grand facade hid their fiscal troubles.

  2. Deceptive; creating a false impression.

    1. The magician created an illusory effect.
    2. The calm surface of the lake gave an illusory sense of safety, hiding the strong currents beneath.

Synonyms

imaginary unreal false fanciful deceptive

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "illusory" in English means: Based on illusion; not real., Deceptive; creating a false impression..

The phonetic transcription of "illusory" is /ɪˈluː.sə.ri/ in British English and /ɪˈluː.sɔː.ri/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "illusory": imaginary, unreal, false, fanciful, deceptive.

Example usage of "illusory": "The hope of an easy profit proved illusory.". More examples on the page.