Orwellian

American  

[awr-wel-ee-uhn] / ɔrˈwɛl i ən /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of Orwellian

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

Example Sentences

These examples are Orwellian in nature and couldn’t be more antithetical to a society that values freedom of expression.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 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

"It's absolutely Orwellian, isn't it, the use of the word 'exception' now, instead of 'bug'?" he said.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2024

In an era where the term hadn’t been hijacked beyond all reasonable definition, you could even refer to them as Orwellian.

From Slate • Sep. 6, 2023

It is now called the Bristol Commerce Center, the sort of Orwellian name given to a place where commerce has ceased to exist.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove