mirage
noun/mɪˈrɑʒ/
Frequency rank: #9,655 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, often making distant objects or water appear visible where none exists.

Example sentence
The exhausted traveler thought he saw water in the desert, but it turned out to be only a heat-induced mirage.
Synonyms & related words
More words in ranks 9,601–9,700
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