illustration

noun

il·​lus·​tra·​tion ˌi-lə-ˈstrā-shən How to pronounce illustration (audio)
 also  i-ˌlə-
1
: something that serves to illustrate: such as
a
: a picture or diagram that helps make something clear or attractive
b
: an example or instance that helps make something clear
2
a
: the action of illustrating : the condition of being illustrated
b
archaic : the action of making illustrious or honored or distinguished
illustrational
ˌi-lə-ˈstrā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce illustration (audio)
 also  i-ˌlə-
adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for illustration

instance, case, illustration, example, sample, specimen mean something that exhibits distinguishing characteristics in its category.

instance applies to any individual person, act, or thing that may be offered to illustrate or explain.

an instance of history repeating itself

case is used to direct attention to a real or assumed occurrence or situation that is to be considered, studied, or dealt with.

a case of mistaken identity

illustration applies to an instance offered as a means of clarifying or illuminating a general statement.

a telling illustration of Murphy's Law

example applies to a typical, representative, or illustrative instance or case.

a typical example of bureaucratic waste

sample implies a part or unit taken at random from a larger whole and so presumed to be typical of its qualities.

show us a sample of your work

specimen applies to any example or sample whether representative or merely existent and available.

one of the finest specimens of the jeweler's art

Examples of illustration in a Sentence

The illustration on page 30 shows the parts of an engine. a book with many photographs and illustrations The illustrations that he provided in his speech were very effective. They selected photographs to use for the illustration of the book. Illustration is the key to good communication.
Recent Examples on the Web While many of the special-edition vinyl have sold out, the Cardinal Picture Disc Vinyl, featuring a gorgeous illustration of two red cardinals amidst lush greenery, is now back in stock. Anna Tingley, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Source photographs for illustration above: Gene Arias/NBCUniversal, via Getty Images; Terence Patrick/CBS; Robert Voets/CBS; Heidi Gutman/Peacock/NBCU Photo Bank, via Getty Images. Eliza Brooke, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 By displaying the painting, the National Trust also aims to pay tribute to the Detmold twins, who added depth and life to the story with their illustrations. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Statistics from Mexico’s federal government paint an incomplete but helpful illustration of the true dimensions of the problem. Nathaniel Parish Flannery, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Each place setting boasts a unique floral design illustrations in varying colors and flower types. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2024 Marvel announced the main cast of The Fantastic Four on Valentine’s Day with an illustration of the actors as their heroes, as well as a release date for the film: July 25, 2025. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 At a macro level, what Starbucks has done here is yet another illustration of how accessibility and technology affect the real world. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Examples provided in the research paper show how a Saturn illustration can transition between background colors, or show stars fading in and out of the foreground. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'illustration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of illustration was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near illustration

Cite this Entry

“Illustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illustration. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

illustration

noun
il·​lus·​tra·​tion ˌil-əs-ˈtrā-shən How to pronounce illustration (audio)
1
: the action of illustrating : the condition of being illustrated
2
: an example or instance used to make something clear
3
: a picture or diagram that explains or decorates

More from Merriam-Webster on illustration

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