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Synonyms

escapism

American  
[ih-skey-piz-uhm] / ɪˈskeɪ pɪz əm /

noun

  1. the avoidance of reality by absorption of the mind in entertainment or in an imaginative situation, activity, etc.

escapism British  
/ ɪˈskeɪpɪzəm /

noun

  1. an inclination to or habit of retreating from unpleasant or unacceptable reality, as through diversion or fantasy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • escapist adjective

Etymology

Origin of escapism

First recorded in 1930–35; escape + -ism

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.

Asked at the premiere about what the cast would have in their own magical land, the answers ranged from pure escapism to something a little closer to home.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

With their mix of social realism, symbolism and pure escapism, the movies of 1939 embody the same themes that kept audiences flocking to the cinema and other forms of entertainment throughout the decade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Varvara now cares for her husband's two children from a previous marriage -- something she calls "a form of escapism", and which has reinforced her decision to stay quiet.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

And then I get to wear this gold one on the beach where she gets to let loose and ride off into the sunset when she’s an actress that probably doesn’t get that escapism.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

The flickering images offered escapism and a muscular dose of patriotism.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.