Don’t Let the Difference Between “Elusive” and “Illusive” Elude You
Elusive and illusive are both adjectives, and they are homophones, so it can be easy to mix them up. They have very distinct meanings, so it’s good to learn how to use them properly.
Is It “Elusive” or “Illusive”?
Anyone with a cat or dog may be familiar with using a laser pointer to keep them entertained. They try with all their might to catch the elusive red dot, but just can’t. That’s because the dot is also illusive.
Things that are difficult (or impossible) to reach, can sometimes be described as both elusive and illusive, but don’t be fooled; these words don’t mean the same thing. We’ll elaborate on the difference between these two homophones below.
“Elusive”– Definition and Examples
Elusive is an adjective, meaning it’s used to describe nouns. When something is elusive, that means it’s hard to find or capture.
If a goal, assignment, or anything else is difficult to achieve or reach, it can also be described as elusive.
A concept like love can be considered elusive, not just because it can be hard to find for some people, but also because it can be hard to define.
If you’re familiar with the verb elude, which means “to quickly avoid or escape” or “failed to be understood by someone,” it can help you when remembering what the word elusive means.
“Illusive”– Definition and Examples
Illusive is also an adjective. But if something is illusive, it means it looks real, even though it’s not. In other words, it’s deceptive. Think of the word illusion when using this word.
Don’t Let Exceptional Writing Elude You
Your poor cat or dog can try and try to catch the elusive red dot, but will never be able to catch it. Not just because you move it every time he gets close to it, but because the red dot doesn’t have a material form. It’s not really there on the wall, or on the floor, or on the couch— it’s illusive.
Illusive is not used as often as elusive is. If you’re deciding on which one to use, chances are you want elusive. But, if you want to be certain, keep this in mind:
- If it eludes you, it’s elusive. If it’s a sort of illusion, it’s illusive.
