# allusion

/əˈɫuʒən/ (US) · /ɐlˈuːʒən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/allusion
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a brief mention of something famous or a person, without naming them directly. You use this when you want to show you know about a story or a famous person.

For teachers: an indirect or passing reference to a person, place, or event, especially in literature or speech. Often used to evoke a shared cultural or historical knowledge without explicit explanation.

## Examples

- The song contains a clever allusion to a famous movie.
- The author makes a subtle allusion to the ancient myth to explain the character's sudden change in behavior.
- While the poem does not name the historical figure directly, it contains several allusions to his most famous speeches, allowing readers to recognize his influence on the narrator's worldview.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.