Pareidolia
/ˌpær.iˈdoʊ.li.ə/noun
The tendency to perceive a meaningful image or pattern, especially a face, in random or ambiguous visual data.
Did you know?Pareidolia was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots meaning “beside” and “image/form,” and it names the mind’s ancient urge to turn chaos into meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
para-
“beside, alongside, beyond”
Ancient Greek
Greek
eidōlon
“image, form, likeness, phantom”
19th Century
Greek/Scientific
pareidōlia
“false perception or mistaken image”
Modern English
English
pareidolia
“the perception of meaningful images in random patterns”