delusion
/dɪˈluːʒn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈluːʒn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈlü-zhən dē-/ (ame, mw)
delusion — noun
- delusionsingular
- delusionsplural
1. a belief or opinion that is firmly held but not based on fact, causing you to se
a belief or opinion that is firmly held but not based on fact, causing you to see yourself or a situation in a way that is not real.
Tomás was under the delusion that everyone admired him, even though his colleagues rarely spoke to him.
under the delusion that + clause
The delusion that wealth alone brings happiness is common among people who have never struggled financially.
delusion that [clause] — noun clause pattern
Carla's delusion about her singing talent ended when a recording studio rejected her demo tape.
Many young athletes suffer from the delusion that professional sports are an easy path to fame.
- misconception
less intense than delusion; suggests a wrong understanding that can be corrected with the right information
- fallacy
a mistaken belief based on unsound logic; more formal and often used in academic contexts
- fantasy
an imagined situation that you know is not real; less serious than delusion
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'under the delusion that + clause', which describes the specific false belief someone holds.
常見錯誤
2. the act of purposely making yourself believe something untrue, or the condition
the act of purposely making yourself believe something untrue, or the condition of having been tricked into a false belief by someone else.
His constant spending was a form of delusion — he convinced himself he could pay off the debt later.
uncountable use: 'a form of delusion'
The politician accused the media of practicing mass delusion by spreading misleading statistics to the public.
Ananya wondered whether her optimism was genuine hope or just a comforting delusion she had created for herself.
Santi warned his brother that chasing the get-rich-quick scheme would only lead to delusion and regret.
- self-deception
more transparent in meaning; emphasises that you are tricking yourself deliberately or unconsciously
- deception
broader in scope; can refer to deceiving others, not just yourself
- enlightenment
the state of being fully aware and free from false beliefs
用法筆記
In this sense, 'delusion' is often uncountable and describes the mental action or process of deceiving oneself, rather than a specific false idea.
常見錯誤
3. a fixed, false belief that is held with complete certainty even when clear evide
a fixed, false belief that is held with complete certainty even when clear evidence proves it wrong, often occurring as part of a mental health condition such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The patient experienced paranoid delusions that secret agents were following her everywhere she went.
paranoid delusions — common clinical collocation
Dr. Okonkwo explained that a fixed delusion cannot be corrected by logical arguments or factual evidence.
fixed delusion — specialist description in psychiatry
People with grandiose delusions may believe they have special powers or a world-saving mission.
The psychiatric report described a clear pattern of persecutory delusions that had lasted for more than six months.
- psychotic belief
more clinical and technical; used mainly in medical documentation rather than everyday speech
- fixed false belief
a descriptive phrase used in diagnostic criteria to avoid the stigma sometimes associated with the word 'delusion'
- reality testing
the ability to distinguish between what is real and what is not — the opposite cognitive function to delusional thinking
用法筆記
In clinical settings, 'delusion' is distinguished from 'hallucination' (a false sensory perception, such as hearing voices) and 'illusion' (a misinterpretation of a real external stimulus). Mental health professionals classify delusions by theme — paranoid, grandiose, persecutory, and somatic are some common types.