word
pareidolia
pair-ee-DOH-lee-ah
ˌpærɪˈdoʊliəListen
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Syllable breakdown
pareidolia
Dictionary meaning
The tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern, such as seeing a face in the moon or animals in clouds.
History and origin
Greek — 'para' (beside, beyond) + 'eidolon' (image, form).
Examples
- Seeing the Virgin Mary in a piece of toast is a classic example of pareidolia.
Common mispronunciations
par-ih-DOH-lee-ahPAIR-ee-doh-lee-ah
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