visionary

[vizh-uh-ner-ee]

See more synonyms for visionary on Thesaurus.com

adjective

given to or characterized by fanciful, not presently workable, or unpractical ideas, views, or schemes: a visionary enthusiast.
given to or concerned with seeing visions.
belonging to or seen in a vision.

unreal; imaginary: visionary evils.
purely idealistic or speculative; impractical; unrealizable: a visionary scheme.
of, relating to, or proper to a vision.

noun, plural vi·sion·ar·ies.

a person of unusually keen foresight.
a person who sees visions.
a person who is given to audacious, highly speculative, or impractical ideas or schemes; dreamer.

Origin of visionary

First recorded in 1640–50; vision + -ary

Related formsvi·sion·ar·i·ness, nounnon·vi·sion·ar·y, adjective, nounun·vi·sion·ar·y, adjective

Synonyms for visionary

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. impractical, impracticable. 4. fancied, illusory, chimerical. 5. unrealistic.

Antonyms for visionary

1. practical.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for visionary

noble, grandiose, idealistic, radical, introspective, ambitious, quixotic, starry-eyed, lofty, seer, prophet, zealot, idealist, dreamer, romantic, theorist, ideal, utopian, dreaming, imaginary

Examples from the Web for visionary

Contemporary Examples of visionary

Ken Russell, the now sadly deceased British film director, told me he considered Jarman a visionary.
The Queer Genius of Film Director Derek Jarman
Tim Teeman
November 1, 2014
I wanted to talk about your career as well, since you were honored here with the Persol Tribute to Visionary Talent Award.
Frances McDormand on 'Olive Kitteridge,' Dropping LSD, and Her Beef With FX's 'Fargo'
Marlow Stern
September 3, 2014
Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas is on display at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta until September 7.
Dreaming Up the Cars of the Future
Justin Jones
July 10, 2014
Our visionary scientists have found the Achilles heel of yet another enemy of the State—the Superbug!
The Fake Superbug Cure
Kent Sepkowitz
June 21, 2014
He cites Jim Collins and Jerry Porras's Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies.
In the Backseat With Janelle Monae: A Limo Ride with the Stylish R&B Diva
Douglas Wolk
April 28, 2014

Historical Examples of visionary

It was precisely on the pattern of that worn by the visionary Maid.
The Threefold Destiny (From "Twice Told Tales")
Nathaniel Hawthorne
He had formerly been ridiculed as a visionary, he was now pitied as a desperado.
Christopher Columbus and His Monument Columbia
Various
Gone were the days of sarcastic ridicule, of visionary politics.
Stories of a Western Town
Octave Thanet
There were others who tried to draw him into visionary speculations.
Great Men and Famous Women, Vol. 8 (of 8)
Various
I remembered that he had looked to you for the perpetuation of his visionary soul.
Under Western Eyes
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for visionary

visionary

adjective

marked by vision or foresighta visionary leader
incapable of being realized or effected; unrealistic
(of people) characterized by idealistic or radical ideas, esp impractical ones
given to having visions
of, of the nature of, or seen in visions

noun plural -aries

a visionary person

Derived Formsvisionariness, 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 visionary

adj.

"able to see visions," 1650s, from vision + -ary. Meaning "impractical" is attested from 1727. The noun is attested from 1702, from the adj., originally "one who indulges in impractical fantasies."