# illustration

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɪl.əˈstɹeɪ.ʃən/ · frequency rank #8,046

## Definitions
1. The act of illustrating; the act of making clear and distinct.
2. The state of being illustrated, or of being made clear and distinct.
3. Something which illustrates; a comparison or example intended to make clear or apprehensible, or to remove obscurity.
4. A picture designed to decorate a publication, or elucidate a literary work.
5. A calculated prevision of insurance premiums and returns (life insurance)

## Etymology
From Middle French illustration, from Latin illūstrātiō, from illūstrō (“I illustrate”). By surface analysis, illustrate + -ion.

## Easily confused with
- **illustrator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/illustration-vs-illustrator)
- **illustrative** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/illustration-vs-illustrative)

## Common misspellings (17)
`illsutration`, `illusrtation`, `illusstration`, `illustartion`, `illustraiton`, `illustrasion`, `illustratino`, `illustrationn`, `illustratoin`, `illustrattion`, `illustrration`, `illustrtaion`, `illusttration`, `illutsration`, `ilulstration`, `ilustration`, `lilustration`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/illustration