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

Adrien Brody’s performance as visionary Hungarian architect and postwar immigrant László Toth in the upcoming epic “The Brutalist” has made him a favorite for a second lead actor Oscar nomination — and potentially even another win.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, Markus Hinterhäuser, the festival’s visionary artistic director, told me that Sellars is his most important artistic guide today.

From Los Angeles Times

David was a visionary, but the most important part of his vision was that he was not afraid to take risks.

From Slate

Before Fred Hampton was murdered by local police officers colluding with the FBI in 1969, the visionary young Illinois Black Panther Party leader said: “Nothing is more important than stopping fascism, because fascism will stop us all.”

From Salon

“People don’t quite understand just how much of a visionary Martha was and continues to be. She understood synergy long before others did; she understood the lack of barriers between different kinds of content before others did; she understood the power of the personal brand before others did,” Cutler told Netflix.

From Salon

Related Words

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