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

Comic-Con kicked off in San Diego on Thursday, and in a sign Hollywood may be moving beyond Peak IP, some of this year’s buzziest panels aren’t for superheroes or cute droids, but for visionary creators. — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 24 July 2026

Thank you to Apple for their unwavering support, to our visionary writers, our incredible crew, and our extraordinarily talented cast, who brought five seasons to life with a truth audiences believed every step of the way. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 July 2026

Noun

The brand has previously collaborated with British designers including Craig Green, Charles Jeffrey and Nicholas Daley, as well as modern menswear visionaries such as Raf Simons and Kris Van Assche. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Today, the media obsesses over the thoughts and fall-outs of AI visionaries like Altman and Amodei. — Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 23 July 2026

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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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