dystopia

noun

dys·​to·​pia (ˌ)dis-ˈtō-pē-ə How to pronounce dystopia (audio)
1
: an imagined world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives
There's almost a flavor of science fiction to the scenes Chilson describes, as though he were giving us a glimpse into a 21st-century dystopia of mad egoism and hurtling hulks of metal.Adam Goodheart
Over the course of the movie, the late-60's ideal of togetherness turns into a dystopia of violence, revulsion and finally death.John Leland
2
: anti-utopia sense 2
writing a dystopia
… leaping across the century to the 1990's to attempt a dystopia about the disintegration of Australian democracy into startling, irreversible despotism.Pearl K. Bell

Examples of dystopia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But for now, that prospect belongs in the realm of science fiction, and even there, dystopia is far more likely than anything verging on utopia. Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024 To be pretty in this dystopia means becoming monstrous. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2024 Okay, these eggs have stuff inside of them, so that’s a step up from the eggless dystopia of Don’t Worry, Darling. Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2024 But this toy-department memoir soon heads toward political dystopia. Armond White, National Review, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dystopia 

Word History

Etymology

dys- + -topia (in utopia)

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dystopia was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near dystopia

dystonia

dystopia

dystopian

Cite this Entry

“Dystopia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dystopia. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dystopia

noun
dys·​to·​pia
(ˌ)dis-ˈtō-pē-ə
: an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly
also : a work of literature about such a place
dystopian
-ən
adjective

Medical Definition

dystopia

noun
dys·​to·​pia dis-ˈtō-pē-ə How to pronounce dystopia (audio)
: malposition of an anatomical part
dystopic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on dystopia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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