Cornsweet illusion

noun

An optical illusion where an edge between regions of the same shade causes them to be perceived as different shades.

Meanings

nounCornsweet illusion (plural Cornsweet illusions)

plural Cornsweet illusions

  1. An optical illusion where an edge between regions of the same shade causes them to be perceived as different shades.

Origin

It was described in detail by Tom N. Cornsweet in the late 1960s.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Cornsweet illusion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cornsweet%20illusion

MLA

“Cornsweet illusion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cornsweet%20illusion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cornsweet illusion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cornsweet%20illusion.

Source: Cornsweet illusion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.