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 vi·sion·ar·ies.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈvisionariness, noun

Other Words From

• vision·ari·ness noun
• non·vision·ary adjective noun
• un·vision·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of visionary¹

First recorded in 1640–50; vision + -ary

Example Sentences

It achieved global success and touched the lives of millions of theater geeks and aspiring ingenues alike with its showstopping numbers and visionary production.

From Salon

Along with his role as an economist, Bawumia has also built the reputation of being a digital visionary.

From BBC

It could have turned out very badly, although I thought the script was a wonderful, pretty near visionary piece of writing, and I thought Spike did a fantastic job directing it.

From Los Angeles Times

“He was a painter a poet and a visionary. I admired him. He had impeccable taste. And a sharp tongue, Which he sometimes used against me but I always forgave him.”

From Salon

This fall, it is partnering with Denim Dudes, a visionary in denim and casualwear, to launch Nothing New — offering seven L.A. brands the chance to mine American Rag’s vintage archive to create exclusive capsule collections.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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