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Published on August 28, 2007

The words "delusion" and "illusion", both nouns, provide basically the same meanings, one of which is an idea or belief that we think is true but in fact is false.

Many people have the illusion/delusion that money can bring them happiness.

This sentence tells us people have the false belief that money can bring them happiness.

Look at the next sentence:

Before getting divorced, Susan had no illusion/delusion about being a single mother of three children.

In this sentence, "illusion" is used in a negative structure that means before getting divorced, Susan understood the truth about what it was like being a single mother of three children.

Another meaning of "delusion" and "illusion" is something that appears like one thing, but in reality it is not what it appears to be or is not there at all.

Taking their children for a holiday abroad gave the impression that they were a warm and happy family, but it was only an illusion. Frank and his wife have fought a lot recently.

Above are the two meanings that both words share, but "delusion" has an extra meaning of a state of someone believing something that is not true.

Samantha was under the delusion that she would receive full compensation from the insurance company, until she received the cheque.

You can also use it as an adjective: "delusive" or "delusory".

Samantha had the delusive trust that she would be paid compensation in full from the insurance company, until she received the cheque.

Now let's move on to "disillusion". Don't be fooled by the first three letters, which look like a prefix that would give it a negative meaning. "Disillusion", a verb, means to disappoint someone by telling him/her the unpleasant truth about something or someone whom he/she had a good or positive attitude towards or respected.

I don't want to disillusion you, but running a restaurant is more than just cooking and serving food.

"Disillusion" can also function as a noun, with the same basic meaning as "disillusionment", the disappointment that one feels knowing that something is not as good as he/she had expected it to be.

Tom had worked very hard to prove his theory, but what he discovered was a big disillusionment/disillusion.

There had already been widespread disillusionment/disillusion with the government before the president resigned.

As an adjective, "disillusioned" is used when something is disappointing because it is not as good as you had expected it to be.

The members were disillusioned with the party under Jonathan's leadership.

She was disillusioned with me after learning I was only a university drop-out.

Hope this helps.