hallucination /həlo̅o̅′sinā″shən/ [L, alucinari, to wander in mind] , a sensory perception that does not result from an external stimulus and that occurs in the waking state. It can occur in any of the senses and is classified accordingly as auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile, or visual. It is a symptom of psychotic behavior, often noted during schizophrenia, as well as of other mental or organic disorders and conditions. −hallucinations, adj., −hallucinate, v.
