illusory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "illusory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is deceptive or not real, often referring to perceptions or beliefs that are misleading. Example: "The promise of easy wealth through gambling is often illusory, leading many to financial ruin."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But as it was recognised that hallucinations can be reliably identified in children, science has begun to look at why these illusory experiences are many times more common during our early years.

The Guardian

Friedman was one of the first to show that that trade-off was illusory.

The Guardian

And neither, the research shows, are these illusory companions a compensation for a lack of real friends.

The Guardian

"Kapkov's reforms provided a whole generation of young creative types with a sense – perhaps somewhat illusory – that they could do things on a small scale; that there was a real fabric of life in a public city," said Tsentsiper.

The Guardian

Senator Rand Paul, a long-time critic of QE and a potential Republican presidential candidate, has worried that the US's economic recovery is "illusory".

The Guardian - Business

In the 1980s he directed some of his fiercest attacks towards the World Bank, which he saw as financing illusory progress by forcing developing countries to export food while destroying their natural ability to grow it.

The Guardian

Yet there were illusory moments.

The Guardian - Sport

In a postscript worthy of a farce, the company admitted last week that a further $3.3 billion of revenues may have been equally illusory.

The Economist

The country's recovery (which Conservative ministers will vaunt from the platform at their conference next week) is illusory when real wages are still falling.

The Economist

But the benefits are illusory, charge the insurgents.

The Economist

(He declined, when asked directly, to say they lied).As for the diversity of Britain's state schools, parents have long known it to be largely illusory.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "illusory" to describe situations or perceptions that seem promising or real but are ultimately based on deception or fantasy. It's particularly effective when contrasting appearance with reality.

Common error

Avoid using "illusory" when you mean "elusive". "Illusory" describes something that is deceptive or not real, while "elusive" describes something difficult to catch or achieve. For example, don't say "The solution was illusory" if you mean "The solution was elusive."

Linguistic Context

The word "illusory" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that gives a false or deceptive impression of reality. Ludwig AI identifies that it's about perceptions or beliefs that are misleading, as demonstrated in multiple examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "illusory" is a common and grammatically correct adjective used to describe something deceptive or not real. Ludwig AI confirms that it's suitable for many contexts, frequently appearing in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific domains. When using "illusory", remember that it indicates a contrast between appearance and reality, avoid confusing it with "elusive", and consider alternatives like "deceptive" or "misleading" to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceptive

Focuses on the intent to mislead, rather than just the false appearance.

misleading

Highlights the potential to cause misunderstanding or incorrect conclusions.

unreal

Emphasizes the lack of physical existence or grounding in reality.

imaginary

Suggests the concept exists only in the mind.

false

Indicates an inaccuracy or deviation from the truth.

apparent but not real

Expresses the idea of something seeming true but ultimately being untrue.

not genuine

Indicates a lack of authenticity or sincerity.

ostensible

Describes something presented as true but potentially hiding a different reality.

specious

Sounds correct or true, but lacks real merit.

chimerical

Implies wildy fanciful or unrealistic.

FAQs

How to use "illusory" in a sentence?

You can use "illusory" to describe something that appears real or true but is in fact false or deceptive. For example: "The company's profits were "illusory"."

What can I say instead of "illusory"?

You can use alternatives like "deceptive", "misleading", or "imaginary" depending on the specific context.

Is "illusory" the same as "illusionary"?

"Illusory" is the correct and more commonly used term. "Illusionary" is less frequent and sometimes considered nonstandard, so it's generally best to stick with "illusory".

What is the difference between "illusory" and "elusive"?

"Illusory" describes something that is not real or is based on an illusion. "Elusive" describes something that is difficult to find, catch, or achieve. An opportunity might be elusive, while a sense of security might be illusory.