Orwellian

American

[awr-wel-ee-uhn] / ɔrˈwɛl i ən /

adjective

of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or resembling the literary work of George Orwell or the totalitarian future described in his antiutopian novel 1984 (1949).

Etymology

Origin of Orwellian

1945–50; after G. Orwell ( def. ) + -ian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Orwellian

Again and again his terrified sources, after bemoaning the Orwellian climate of the book business, beg him for reassurance that they will not be named in print.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

In Leavitt’s usage, “transparency” has become a form of Orwellian “doublespeak,” a word or phrase which through the process of “doublethink” had come to encompass its exact opposite meaning.

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025

Beers, who was surprised by the win, said the world “seems to become slightly more Orwellian with each passing day.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2025

But a lawyer for the inquiry branded the move as "absolutely Orwellian".

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2024

So then we had a genial argument about Orwellian socialism.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023