An allusion is not a play on words —that would be a pun—but allusion does come from the Latin verb allūdere, which in turn combines the verb lūdere, meaning “play,” with the prefix ad-, …

As a literary device, allusion allows a writer to compress a great deal of meaning and significance into a word or phrase. However, allusions are only effective to the extent that they are …

Allusions can be direct or indirect, meaning that they might explicitly state the name of the thing they're referring to, or they might hint at it in other, subtler ways.

In a wider, more informal context, an allusion is a passing or casually short statement indicating broader meaning. It is an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication, …

Oct 18, 2025 · Learn what an allusion is, explore types and examples of allusions, and discover how to use this literary device effectively in your writing.

May 13, 2025 · Allusions make writing or speech more powerful, relatable, and emotional by connecting to shared knowledge. Examples of allusions include “Achilles’ heel” (a fatal …

Dec 9, 2024 · God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son!” This is a direct allusion to the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22.

Allusions use the original reference as a point of departure, but they can also change the referent and add meaning retroactively. Allusions create intertextuality in this way. It is important to …

Allusions are generally regarded as brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature.

ALLUSION definition: 1. something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or…. Learn more.