: an optical (see opticalsense 2a) effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert, or over a hot pavement, that may have the appearance of a pool of water or a mirror in which distant objects are seen inverted, and that is caused by the bending or reflection of rays of light by a layer of heated air of varying density
2
: something illusory and unattainable like a mirage
A peaceful solution proved to be a mirage.
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Mirage and Vision
Mirage comes from the French verb mirer ("to look at"), which is related to mirror. Mirer, itself, is from Latin mīrārī ("to wonder at"), the ancestor of the commonly seen admire, miracle, and marvel.
delusion implies an inability to distinguish between what is real and what only seems to be real, often as the result of a disordered state of mind.
delusions of persecution
illusion implies a false ascribing of reality based on what one sees or imagines.
an illusion of safety
hallucination implies impressions that are the product of disordered senses, as because of mental illness or drugs.
suffered from terrifying hallucinations
mirage in its extended sense applies to an illusory vision, dream, hope, or aim.
claimed a balanced budget is a mirage
Example Sentences
A peaceful solution proved to be a mirage.
Recent Examples on the WebFor all the progress in Mississippi, there are still challenges — and people who wonder if the gains are a mirage. Lelah Byron And Aimee Galaszewski, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 But more than two dozen former employees say the image fueling his clout, and that attracted his female followers, was a mirage.New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Cora insists the June version of the Red Sox was not a mirage. John Perrotto, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Yet when the Princeton researchers looked more closely, many of the results turned out to be a mirage.Wired, 11 Aug. 2022 In what ways is Apple helping consumer privacy and in what ways is that a mirage? Scott Nover, Quartz, 29 July 2022 Follow the music and, like a mirage, the restaurant appears. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 July 2022 The ‘red mirage’ Chris Stirewalt, a former political editor for Fox News Channel, testified in person at the hearing. Mary Clare Jalonick, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 This was a time for submission, as the mirage of Arab power was stripped away. Nadifa Mohamed, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, from mirer "to look at, gaze at" (going back to Old French, going back to Latin mīrārī "to be surprised, look with wonder at") + -age-age — more at admire