delusion
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/dɪˈluːʒən/
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A firmly held false belief that resists contrary evidence, and a general unfounded opinion, both describing ideas that are not supported by facts.
Examples
- The court considered his delusion as a factor in the verdict.
- His delusion that he could finish the marathon without training was unrealistic.
- The rumor that the company will close was just a delusion among employees.
- The therapist noted the delusion of grandeur in his speech.
- The investor’s delusion about guaranteed returns led to losses.
Similar words
self‑deception
misconception
misbelief
mistaken idea
fantasy
false notion
hallucination
misunderstanding
illusion
false belief
Meanings
Usage
Use delusion for a firmly held false belief that does not change with evidence.
Examples
- The patient’s delusion that the doctors were plotting against him persisted despite reassurance.
- She clung to the delusion of being a famous singer even after failing auditions.
- His delusions about being invincible led him to take dangerous risks.
- The therapist noted the delusion of grandeur in his speech.
- Despite evidence, his delusion that the house was haunted remained.
- The court considered his delusion as a factor in the verdict.
- She whispered her delusion to anyone who would listen, hoping for validation.
Common mistakes
It is often confused with illusion
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He saw a delusion of a rainbow after the storm.
| He saw an illusion of a rainbow after the storm.
|
| The therapist treated the delusion as a simple mistake.
| The therapist treated the misconception as a simple mistake.
|
| She called his delusion a hallucination.
| She called his misbelief a hallucination.
|
Similar words
misbelief
false belief
hallucination
misconception
self‑deception
fantasy
illusion
error
Usage
Use delusion when describing an idea that is clearly unsupported by evidence.
Examples
- His claim that the Earth is flat is a delusion that ignores scientific proof.
- The rumor that the company will close was just a delusion among employees.
- She dismissed the delusion that the new policy would increase salaries.
- The investor’s delusion about guaranteed returns led to losses.
- Calling the celebrity’s scandal a delusion downplays the real facts.
- His delusion that he could finish the marathon without training was unrealistic.
- The media spread the delusion that the storm would miss the coast.
Common mistakes
It is sometimes used for a simple error
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He had a delusion that he left his keys on the table.
| He had a misconception that he left his keys on the table.
|
| Calling the typo a delusion sounds pretentious.
| Calling the typo a mistake sounds pretentious.
|
| She thought the meeting was at 3, a delusion.
| She thought the meeting was at 3, a mistake.
|
Similar words
misconception
fallacy
error
false notion
mistaken idea
misunderstanding
myth
superstition
Usage
Choose delusion for a belief that is clearly false and resistant to proof, and avoid it for ordinary errors or simple misconceptions.
Common mistakes
It is often confused with illusion, leading to misuse of the term for visual misperceptions.
Etymology
From Middle English delusioun, from Late Latin dēlūsiōn‑, from Latin dēlūdere meaning to deceive.
FAQ
What does delusion mean in psychology?
It is a fixed false belief that persists despite clear evidence to the contrary.
How is delusion different from illusion?
A delusion is a belief, while an illusion is a misperception of sensory information.
Can delusion be used for everyday mistakes?
Usually no; for ordinary errors use words like mistake or misconception.
What is the plural form of delusion?
The regular plural is delusions.
Where does the word delusion come from?
It derives from Middle English delusioun, from Late Latin dēlūsiōn‑, from Latin dēlūdere meaning to deceive.
Is delusion always a mental disorder?
No, it can describe any false belief, though in clinical contexts it refers to a symptom of a disorder.
How do you pronounce delusion?
It is pronounced /dɪˈluːʒən/.
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