An allusion is a reference, typically brief, to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar. As a literary device, allusion allows a writer to …

An allusion is an indirect reference, whereas an illusion is something that is unreal or incorrect. Each of the nouns has a related verb form: allude “to refer indirectly to,” and illude (not a very common word), which may mean “to delude or deceive” or “to subject to an illusion.”

In a wider, more informal context, an allusion is a passing or casually short statement indicating broader meaning. It is an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication, such as "In the stock market, he met his Waterloo."

Dec 9, 2024 · An allusion is commonly used in literature, cinema, music, and art. It is a reference to a person, place, or event that the speaker or writer assumes will be understood by their audience, with the effect that it adds a layer of meaning or insight to the text.

ALLUSION definition: 1. something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or…. Learn more.

May 13, 2025 · What is an allusion, and why do writers use it? An allusion is a literary device used to refer to something well-known, like a famous person, story, place, or event, without saying it explicitly, allowing the audience to glean the meaning and recognize the reference themselves.

Allusion (pronounced ah-LOO-zhun) is basically a reference to something else. It’s when a writer mentions some other work, or refers to an earlier part of the current work. In literature, it’s frequently used to reference cultural works (e.g. by alluding to a Bible story or Greek myth).

Allusion is a literary device where a writer refers to a well-known person, event, place, or work of art, either directly or indirectly, without explicitly mentioning it.

Allusion definition: a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication.. See examples of ALLUSION used in a sentence.

Allusions are generally regarded as brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature.