Hallucination — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /hə-ˌlü-sə-ˈnā-shən/ hal·lu·ci·na·tion

Meaning & Definition of Hallucination

Hallucination (noun)

  1. a sensory perception (such as a visual image or a sound) that occurs in the absence of an actual external stimulus and usually arises from neurological disturbance (such as that associated with delirium tremens, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or narcolepsy) or in response to drugs (such as LSD or phencyclidine)
  2. the object of a hallucinatory perception
  3. an unfounded or mistaken impression or notion, delusion

Hallucination (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality

    "were the voices real, or merely a hallucination?"

    similar: chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, castle in Spain, castle in the air
    related: ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare
    near: actuality, fact, reality

  2. a false idea or belief

    "the common hallucination that gluttony during the holiday season doesn't have consequences"

    similar: delusion, error, fallacy, falsehood, falsity, illusion, misbelief, misconception, myth, old wives' tale, untruth
    related: factoid, superstition, fiction, pretense, distortion, inaccuracy, misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misperception, misunderstanding, misinformation, misknowledge, misreport, misrepresentation, misstatement, sophism, sophistry, fib, half-truth, lie, story, tale
    opposite: truth, verity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hallucination

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hallucination:

chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, error, fallacy, falsehood, falsity, misbelief, misconception, myth, old wives' tale, untruth, castle in Spain, castle in the air

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hallucination

Words with the opposite meaning of Hallucination:

truth, verity

Related Words for Hallucination

ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare, factoid, superstition, pretense, distortion, inaccuracy, misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misjudgment, misperception, misunderstanding

Near Antonyms of Hallucination

actuality, fact, reality

Word Forms of Hallucination

Inflections: hallucinations

Origin & Etymology of Hallucination

First known use: 1629

Frequently Asked Questions about Hallucination

What does "Hallucination" mean?

"Hallucination" means a sensory perception (such as a visual image or a sound) that occurs in the absence of an actual external stimulus and usually arises from neurological disturbance (such as that associated with delirium tremens, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or narcolepsy) or in response to drugs (such as LSD or phencyclidine). As a noun, it is defined as: a sensory perception (such as a visual image or a sound) that occurs in the absence of an actual external stimulus and usually arises from neurological disturbance (such as that associated with delirium tremens, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or narcolepsy) or in response to drugs (such as LSD or phencyclidine). It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hallucination"?

Other words for "Hallucination" include chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy and figment. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hallucination" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hallucination"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hallucination". Common alternatives include chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, illusion and nonentity.

What is the opposite of "Hallucination"?

Antonyms of "Hallucination" include truth and verity. Near antonyms include actuality, fact and reality.

How do you use "Hallucination" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hallucination" in a sentence: "were the voices real, or merely a hallucination?"; "the common hallucination that gluttony during the holiday season doesn't have consequences".

Is "Hallucination" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hallucination" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Hallucination"?

"Hallucination" is pronounced /hə-ˌlü-sə-ˈnā-shən/ and divided into syllables as hal·lu·ci·na·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Hallucination"?

First known use: 1629.