la-la land

noun

1
: a euphoric, dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher realities of life
When you spend time around [him] you are struck by someone who isn't living in la-la land and isn't a pushover.Todd Balf
2
La-La Land
used as a nickname for Los Angeles, California
Like most devoted New Yorkers who find themselves in La-La Land, the author goes through at least half of the five stages of grief.Alexandra Jacobs

Examples of la-la land in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Woodstock With its flawless brick-front shops and whitewashed historic homes, Woodstock is la-la land Vermont. Meg Lukens Noonan, Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024 As with any sci-fi technology, opportunists are spinning them out into la-la land; not quite mainstream or even there yet today, but truly necessary, some say, to a fantasy future anyone has yet to pin down. Cecilia D'anastasio, Wired, 12 Nov. 2021 Judging from a few recent news stories, slices of the not-for-profit art world in New York seem stuck in la-la land. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Apr. 2020 Many of the investors were Hoosiers in Hollywood, midlife businessmen from boring industries in the Corn Belt heeding la-la land’s age-old siren call. Benjamin Wallace, HWD, 1 May 2017 Stop beating yourself up for drifting off to la-la land. Tori Rodriguez, Woman's Day, 3 Aug. 2016

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

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from la-la nonsense syllables in the refrains of songs

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of la-la land was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near la-la land

Cite this Entry

“La-la land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/la-la%20land. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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