Definition

A false perception or experience that seems real but is not, often caused by mental illness or drugs.

Example

After taking the medication, he experienced a vivid hallucination of a giant spider in the corner of the room.

Conversation

I had the weirdest experience last night; I thought I saw a cat talking to me.

That sounds strange! Were you feeling okay?

Yeah, but it felt so real, like a hallucination or something.

I read that can happen if you're really tired or stressed.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hallucination → It is formed from "hallucinari" (meaning to wander in the mind) and the suffix "-ation" (indicating a process or action). The word describes the process of experiencing perceptions that are not present in reality, as if the mind is wandering into a false perception.

Memory Tip

Imagine your mind 'wandering' ('hallucinari') and creating images that aren't really there — that's what a hallucination is.

Visually Confused Words