Hallucinations: meaning, definitions and examples

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hallucinations

 

[ həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃənz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

Hallucinations are sensory experiences that appear real but are created by the mind. They can involve any of the five senses, including sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Hallucinations are often associated with conditions like schizophrenia, dementia, and certain types of epilepsy.

Synonyms

delusions, illusions, phantasms

Examples of usage

  • Patients with schizophrenia may experience auditory hallucinations, hearing voices that are not actually there.
  • Visual hallucinations can include seeing objects or people that do not exist in reality.
  • Some individuals with dementia may have olfactory hallucinations, perceiving smells that are not present.
  • Tactile hallucinations involve the sensation of touch, such as feeling bugs crawling on the skin.
  • Olfactory hallucinations can cause a person to smell odors that are not coming from their surroundings.

Translations

Translations of the word "hallucinations" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alucinações

🇮🇳 मतिभ्रम

🇩🇪 Halluzinationen

🇮🇩 halusinasi

🇺🇦 галюцинації

🇵🇱 halucynacje

🇯🇵 幻覚 (げんかく)

🇫🇷 hallucinations

🇪🇸 alucinaciones

🇹🇷 halüsinasyonlar

🇰🇷 환각 (幻覺)

🇸🇦 هلوسة

🇨🇿 halucinace

🇸🇰 halucinácie

🇨🇳 幻觉 (huàn jué)

🇸🇮 halucinacije

🇮🇸 ofskynjanir

🇰🇿 галлюцинациялар

🇬🇪 ჰალუცინაციები

🇦🇿 halüsinasiyalar

🇲🇽 alucinaciones

Word origin

The word 'hallucination' originated from the Latin word 'hallucinatus', which means 'to wander in the mind'. The concept of hallucinations has been documented throughout history, with references dating back to ancient civilizations. Early explanations often attributed hallucinations to supernatural causes, such as possession by spirits or divine intervention. However, modern understanding views hallucinations as a complex interplay of neurological, psychological, and environmental factors.

See also: hallucinate, hallucinating, hallucination, hallucinatory.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,902, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.