illustration

[ il-uh-strey-shuhn ]

noun

1. something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.
2. a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

   Synonyms: explication

3. the act or process of illuminating.
4. the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.
5. Archaic. illustriousness; distinction.

illustration

/ ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text
2. an example or demonstration

   an illustration of his ability

3. the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated

Derived Forms

• ˌillusˈtrational, adjective

Other Words From

• nonil·lus·tration noun
• over·illus·tration noun
• preil·lus·tration noun
• reil·lus·tration noun
• super·illus·tration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustration¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō ) “the act of making vivid, illustrating”; illustrate, -ion

Synonym Study

See case ¹.

Example Sentences

Illustration is not Lloyd’s method.

From Los Angeles Times

NFL rules state that “players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office,” on game days while “visible to the stadium and television audience,” including “during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field.”

From Los Angeles Times

If Ruben Amorim spent his Sunday in Lisbon tuning into events at Old Trafford, he will have witnessed a graphic illustration of the task awaiting him when he finally arrives as Manchester United manager.

From BBC

The lively canvas, hardly an illustration of an event, employs light-reflective silver and golden-brown metallic paints applied in vast fields of paisley-like commas that dematerialize into a spatially ambiguous surface shimmer.

From Los Angeles Times

You simply can’t make the full case against Trump—or a compelling illustration of his fascist tendencies—without talking about immigration.

From Slate

Related Words

• cartoon
• decoration
• depiction
• engraving
• etching
• image
• painting
• photo
• photograph
• picture
• sketch
• snapshot
• vignette