illusion

noun

Etymology: From Old French illusion, from Latin illūsiō, from illūdere, from in- (“at, upon”) + lūdere (“to play, mock, trick”). Displaced native Old English dwimmer.

1. A distortion of sensory perception where real stimuli lead to a false or misleading impression of reality.

   “We saw what looked like a tiger among the trees, but it was an illusion caused by the shadows of the branches.”

   “Using artificial additives, scientists can create the illusion of fruit flavours in food.”

2. A misapprehension; a belief in something that is in fact not true.

   “Now if you feel that you can't go on / Because all of your hope is gone / And your life is filled with much confusion / Until happiness is just an illusion”

   “Jane has this illusion that John is in love with her.”

3. A magician’s trick.
4. The state of being deceived or misled.