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 of visionary

Adjective

• romantic
• impractical
• utopian
• idealistic
• idealist
• ideological
• quixotic
• optimistic

Noun

• diviner
• prophet
• forecaster
• mystic
• futurist

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

Before Tagawa, this year marked the passing of visionary director David Lynch (January 16) and beloved actors Gene Hackman (February 26), Val Kilmer (April 1), Robert Redford (September 16), and Diane Keaton (October 11), among others. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Lux, Rosalía For her third full-length, the Spanish pop visionary sings in 10 different languages, collaborates with the London Symphony Orchestra, and communes with the sacred teachings of various nuns and female saints. —Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

Noun

In her 80s, Bradford has the wisdom of a visionary and is utterly on her game, creating captivating paintings of figures suspended in fields of blue paint. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025

Others see a visionary who is using compelling metaphors and imagery to help the public understand a complex new financial mechanism. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for visionary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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