optical illusion
noun
plural optical illusions
: a misleading image presented to the vision
Zebras look like optical illusions to me. Which are they—black with white stripes or white with black stripes?—
Al Robinson
Al RobinsonThe sun, moon, and planets circle above the terrestrial plane in the region of the equator. Their apparent rising and setting is an optical illusion caused by atmospheric refraction …—Ranger Rick
Ranger RickExamples of optical illusion in a Sentence
The closer building looks larger than the farther one, but it's just an optical illusion. The two buildings are actually the same size.
Recent Examples on the Web
During its rising phase, the moon often appears larger and brighter due to various optical illusions, including the moon illusion, in which our brains misinterpret its size when framed by foreground objects.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024
The entire book seems to flip back and forth, like an optical illusion, from literary novel to genre thriller and back again.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Both activities depended on legerdemain and made elaborate use of optical illusions.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
Perhaps the most impressive animation produced for the film is a chase in which Tack trails the thief through a palace filled with optical illusions.
—Tim Brinkhof, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion 
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Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024
The entire book seems to flip back and forth, like an optical illusion, from literary novel to genre thriller and back again.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Both activities depended on legerdemain and made elaborate use of optical illusions.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
Perhaps the most impressive animation produced for the film is a chase in which Tack trails the thief through a palace filled with optical illusions.
—Tim Brinkhof, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical illusion
Dictionary Entries Near optical illusion
Cite this Entry
“Optical illusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical%20illusion. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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