illusion

Universal Words noun 1 [C,U] a false idea or belief, especially about sb or about a situation: I have no illusions about her feelings for me (= I know the truth is that she does not love me). * She's under the illusion that (= believes wrongly that) she'll get the job. * He could no longer distinguish between illusion and reality. * I don't want to have my illusions shattered! 2 [C] something that seems to exist but in fact does not, or seems to be sth that it is not: Mirrors in a room often give an illusion of space. * The idea of absolute personal freedom is an illusion. seealsoOPTICALILLUSION