illusive

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin illūsīvus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈluːsɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: elusive

Adjective

illusive (comparative more illusive, superlative most illusive)

1. Subject to or pertaining to an illusion, often used in the sense of an unrealistic expectation or an unreachable goal or outcome.

   Testing software completely is an illusive goal.

   • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:

     […] he could not catch the illusive thing that had sadly perplexed as well as elevated his spirit.

Usage notes

• Often confused with elusive.

Synonyms

• (pertaining to an illusion): illusory

Derived terms

• illusively
• illusiveness

Translations

illusory — see illusory