deluded

Deluded is an adjective used to describe a person who holds beliefs that are not true or are unlikely, often despite evidence to the contrary. It can apply to ordinary mistaken beliefs or to more persistent, self-deceptive ideas. The term is commonly used in a critical or evaluative sense, but it can also describe fictional or historical characters whose convictions are not grounded in reality.

In everyday language, “deluded” conveys a judgment about the accuracy of someone's beliefs, without implying a clinical condition. In psychiatry the related noun delusion denotes a fixed, false belief that is not amenable to reason or evidence and is typically seen in psychotic disorders or severe mood disorders. A person described as deluded is not necessarily diagnosed with a mental illness; the label can refer to a belief pattern rather than a formal disorder.

Etymology: deluded comes from the Latin deludere, meaning to mislead or mock, through Old French forms that entered English. The past participle “deluded” has since broadened to describe someone influenced by misguided thinking or self-deception.

Usage notes: the word often appears in discussions of politics, culture, or personal aspirations, as in phrases like deluded by false promises or deluded by dreamlike expectations. Because it can carry strong connotations, it is sometimes seen as stigmatizing when applied to individuals with genuine psychiatric symptoms.