The overall name given to the various secret societies and so forth. There may be a secret society called "Illuminati." We know that one did exist because they were documented in Germany, their leader was killed, and George Washington wrote in a letter that the Illuminati had attempted to take over/destroy the newly formed USA. The public Illuminati was destroyed, so many say they no longer exist. The secret society called Illuminati may not, but typically the various factions such as Skull and Bones, Bohemian Club, Freemasons, Bible Students Group, CFR, Bilderberg Group, so on and so forth are collectively referred to as Illuminati.
http://www.geocities.com/newstatesas...roduction.html