Utopian

[yoo-toh-pee-uhn]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR Utopian ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling Utopia, an idealized imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More's Utopia (1516).

(usually lowercase) founded upon or involving idealized perfection.

(usually lowercase) given to impractical or unrealistic schemes of such perfection.

noun

an inhabitant of Utopia.

(usually lowercase) an ardent but impractical political or social reformer; visionary; idealist.

Origin of Utopian

From the New Latin word Utopiānus, dating back to 1545–55. See Utopia, -an

SYNONYMS FOR Utopian

3. visionary, idealistic; impracticable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR Utopian ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for utopian

Petro Poroshenko proposes a utopian solution to the problem.
Putin's 'Peace' In Ukraine|Anna Nemtsova|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Only in retrospect did we appreciate our good fortune in being part of a utopian experiment in American journalism,” she writes.
Gail Sheehy Books Passage to the Past|Lizzie Crocker|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When you were setting out to work on The Giver, what planted the seed for this dark, utopian society?
A Trailblazer in YA Dystopian Fiction: An Interview With 'The Giver' Author Lois Lowry|Marianne Hayes|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He calls the proposal “utopian,” and that is probably generous.
How to Think About Economic Inequality After Thomas Piketty|Jedediah Purdy|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

An economy that could help us be better than that is possible, not utopian.
We Need More Class Traitors: Solving America’s Meritocracy Problem|Jedediah Purdy|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In short, you would disarm the country on the faith of a utopian theory.
Economic Sophisms|Frederic Bastiat
It may be that some of you feel inclined to look upon them as the Utopian dreams of a student.
Science and Education|Thomas H. Huxley
If it should spread itself widely, it will lose its Utopian characteristics.
North America, Volume I (of 2)|Anthony Trollope
On two occasions Proudhon seemed to have the alluring opportunity of being able to realise his Utopian visions.
Anarchism|E. V. Zenker
In this critical review he makes his position clear with respect not only to Proudhon but to Utopian Socialism in general.
The life and teaching of Karl Marx|M. Beer

British Dictionary definitions for utopian

Utopian

adjective

of or relating to a perfect or ideal existence

noun

an idealistic social reformer

Derived FormsUtopianism, noun

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

Word Origin and History for utopian

utopian

adj.

1550s, with reference to More's fictional country; 1610s as "extravagantly ideal, impossibly visionary," from utopia + -ian. As a noun meaning "visionary idealist" it is first recorded c.1873 (earlier in this sense was utopiast, 1854).