visionary

1 of 2

adjective

vi·​sion·​ary ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē 

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

ˈvi-zhə-ˌner-ē-nəs 

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.

Synonyms

Adjective

• idealist
• idealistic
• quixotic
• quixotical
• romantic
• starry
• starry-eyed
• utopian

Noun

• augur
• diviner
• forecaster
• foreseer
• foreteller
• fortune-teller
• futurist
• prognosticator
• prophesier
• prophet
• seer
• soothsayer

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

There's a deep irony in this: Our most visionary efforts can get tangled in a web of unintended consequences, reminding us that progress often carries risks. —Saurav Bhattacharya, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Big thanks to Andrea Arnold for letting us in so close to her visionary universe. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024

Noun

But Belden is looking to make the event an unmissable annual space where visionaries can come together to discuss innovation, future projects, and the direction of the industry. —Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Alyssa Farah Griffin — former Donald Trump White House staffer, The View cohost, and alternative sperm-as-face cream visionary — has a strong piece of advice for President Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 election: Keep quiet until Americans head to the polls. —EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

visionary

1 of 2 adjective

vi·​sion·​ary ˈvizh-ə-ˌner-ē 

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