visionary

[vizh-uh-ner-ee]

adjective

1. given to or characterized by fanciful, not presently workable, or unpractical ideas, views, or schemes.

   a visionary enthusiast.

   Synonyms: impracticable, impractical
   Antonyms: practical

2. given to or concerned with seeing visions.

3. belonging to or seen in a vision.

4. unreal; imaginary.

   visionary evils.

   Synonyms: chimerical, illusory, fancied

5. purely idealistic or speculative; impractical; unrealizable.

   a visionary scheme.

   Synonyms: unrealistic

6. of, relating to, or proper to a vision.

noun

plural

visionaries 

1. a person of unusually keen foresight.

2. a person who sees visions.

3. a person who is given to audacious, highly speculative, or impractical ideas or schemes; dreamer.

visionary

/ ˈvɪʒənərɪ /

adjective

1. marked by vision or foresight

   a visionary leader

2. incapable of being realized or effected; unrealistic

3. (of people) characterized by idealistic or radical ideas, esp impractical ones

4. given to having visions

5. of, of the nature of, or seen in visions

noun

1. a visionary person

Other Word Forms

• visionariness noun
• nonvisionary adjective
• unvisionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of visionary¹

First recorded in 1640–50; vision + -ary

Example Sentences

“Charles James Kirk was a visionary and one of the greatest figures of his generation.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bingham and his fellow Lincolnian visionaries’ grand idea was not merely birthright citizenship but equal birthright citizenship under the flag.

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The Swedish Academy in Stockholm credited Krasznahorkai “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.”

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The Hungarian author was recognised "for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art".

Read more on BBC

The Swedish Academy honoured him "for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art."

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• ambitious 
• grandiose 
• idealistic 
• introspective 
• lofty 
• noble 
• quixotic 
• radical 
• starry-eyed