illustration

illustration — noun

1. An image such as a drawing or painting that is placed inside a book, article, or

1.nounA2
Definition

An image such as a drawing or painting that is placed inside a book, article, or other written work, either to explain what the words describe or to make the page look more attractive. The word can also refer to the activity or process of creating such images.

Example

The children's book had bright illustrations of farm animals on every page.

collocation: bright illustrations of

Devika spent the summer creating illustrations for a new science textbook.

Common collocations
  • draw an illustration
  • full-page illustration
  • bright illustration
  • colour illustration
  • book illustration
  • illustration of [subject]
Synonyms
  • drawing

    more specific — an illustration is often a drawing, but can also be a painting or diagram

  • picture

    more general — any visual image, not necessarily one that explains text

  • diagram

    more technical — a simplified drawing that shows how something works or is arranged

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a single picture ('an illustration of a horse'). Uncountable when referring to the art or profession ('she works in illustration').

Common Mistakes

This photo is a beautiful illustration of the sunset.
This photo is a beautiful picture of the sunset.
'illustration' usually means a drawing or painting made by an artist, not a photograph captured by a camera.

2. A particular event, fact, or story used to make an abstract idea easier to under

2.nounB1
Definition

A particular event, fact, or story used to make an abstract idea easier to understand, to show how something works, or to support a claim or argument.

Example

This case is a perfect illustration of why wearing helmets can save lives.

collocation: perfect illustration of

The teacher used a story about a baker as an illustration of supply and demand.

as an illustration of + abstract concept

Common collocations
  • perfect illustration
  • clear illustration
  • striking illustration
  • provide an illustration
  • serve as an illustration
  • by way of illustration
Synonyms
  • example

    more general — any representative case; less emphasis on the explanatory purpose

  • instance

    more formal — a single occurrence of something within a larger category

  • demonstration

    emphasises showing how something works rather than just providing an example

Grammar Patterns

illustration of + noun

illustration + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'of' + noun or noun phrase ('an illustration of the problem'). Can also take a that-clause ('an illustration that teamwork matters'). This sense is always countable and often appears in the construction 'as an illustration'.

Common Mistakes

This chart gives an illustration of the data from last year.
This chart gives a visual representation of the data from last year.
'illustration' in this sense means an explanatory example, not a chart or graph.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

While all four words refer to something that represents a larger group or demonstrates a point, 'illustration' specifically emphasises the explanatory purpose — the example is chosen because it makes an abstract idea easier to grasp. 'Example' is the broadest and most neutral term ('This is an example of good writing'). 'Instance' refers to a single, specific occurrence within a category, often used in formal or academic contexts ('several instances of flooding'). 'Case' typically describes a real-world situation, often in discussions of law, medicine, or social issues ('a case of food poisoning'). 'Sample' is a small physical part taken from a whole to show its quality ('a blood sample'; 'a sample of fabric'). Use 'illustration' when you want to stress that the example is meant to clarify or teach. For instance: 'The teacher offered an illustration of the concept by comparing it to baking a cake.'

example ↗instance ↗case ↗sample ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • by way of illustration
  • as an illustration

Prepositions

  • illustration of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'illustratio', meaning 'a lighting up' or 'a clear showing'. The verb 'illustrare' combined 'in-' (into) with 'lustrare' (to make bright, to purify). In the 1500s English used 'illustration' to mean 'spiritual or intellectual enlightenment'. Over time the word gained two main modern meanings: first, a picture that lights up the text it accompanies, and later, any example that makes an idea clearer.