visionary

1 of 2

adjective

vi·​sion·​ary ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce visionary (audio)
1
: having or marked by foresight and imagination
a visionary leader
a visionary invention
2
a
: of the nature of a vision : illusory
b
: incapable of being realized or achieved : utopian
a visionary scheme
c
: existing only in imagination : unreal
3
a
: able or likely to see visions
b
: disposed to reverie or imagining : dreamy
4
: of, relating to, or characterized by visions or the power of vision
visionariness noun

visionary

2 of 2

noun

plural visionaries
1
: one having unusual foresight and imagination
a visionary in the computer industry
2
: one whose ideas or projects are impractical : dreamer
3
: one who sees visions : seer

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How Should You Use visionary?

A visionary is someone with a strong vision of the future. Since such visions aren't always accurate, a visionary's ideas may either work brilliantly or fail miserably. Even so, visionary is usually a positive word. Martin Luther King, Jr., for instance, was a visionary in his hopes and ideas for a just society. The word is also an adjective; thus, for example, we may speak of a visionary project, a visionary leader, a visionary painter, or a visionary company.

Choose the Right Synonym for visionary

imaginary, fanciful, visionary, fantastic, chimerical, quixotic mean unreal or unbelievable.

imaginary applies to something which is fictitious and purely the product of one's imagination.

an imaginary desert isle

fanciful suggests the free play of the imagination.

a teller of fanciful stories

visionary stresses impracticality or incapability of realization.

visionary schemes

fantastic implies incredibility or strangeness beyond belief.

a fantastic world inhabited by monsters

chimerical combines the implication of visionary and fantastic.

chimerical dreams of future progress

quixotic implies a devotion to romantic or chivalrous ideals unrestrained by ordinary prudence and common sense.

a quixotic crusade

Examples of visionary in a Sentence

Adjective She is known as a visionary leader. He had a visionary experience. Noun She's a visionary in her field. according to Greek myth, Cassandra was a visionary who was endowed with the gift of inerrant prophecy but fated to never be believed
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Throughout dinner and dancing, the two were recognized for their visionary eye and contributions to the field. Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2024 Some are full of visionary photographs, others of snapshots elevated by sequence, candor, or intent. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
In an era where Canadian businesses are embracing Purpose and sustainability at an unprecedented pace, Coro Strandberg stands as a visionary figure pushing for massively transformational change. Afdhel Aziz, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Throughout her decades-long career, the cinematic visionary is known to dream up environments that toe the line between luxury and lived-in. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for visionary 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'visionary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of visionary was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near visionary

Cite this Entry

“Visionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/visionary. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

visionary

1 of 2 adjective
vi·​sion·​ary ˈvizh-ə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce visionary (audio)
1
: resembling a vision especially in being impractical
visionary plans for underwater cities
2
: likely to dream or imagine

visionary

2 of 2 noun
plural visionaries
1
: a person whose ideas or plans are impractical : dreamer
2
: a person who sees visions : seer
3
: one having unusual foresight and imagination
a visionary in the field of computer animation

More from Merriam-Webster on visionary

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