futurology

noun

fu·​tur·​olo·​gy ˌfyü-chə-ˈrä-lə-jē How to pronounce futurology (audio)
: a study that deals with future possibilities based on current trends
futurological adjective
futurologist noun

Examples of futurology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Morris' new book illustrates perfectly why one really scholarly book about the past is worth a hundred fanciful works of futurology. Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2010 According to Wednesday’s update, over 300 subreddits including r/aww (34.1 million users), r/music (32.3m), r/videos (26.6m), and r/futurology (18.7m) have pledged to remain dark for the foreseeable future. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 June 2023 From some point in its development, the modern genre of science fiction started to rely on futurology, which came into being in the twentieth century. Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 6 Jan. 2023 In this sardonic and vivid exercise in futurology, Laughlin explores a world in which nuclear power, algae biofuels, and gas made from animal waste help keep civilization running. Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2011 This is this kind of aspirational futurology that has earned Tesla a cultish following and outsize stock-market valuation. Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021 In 1930, the English economist John Maynard Keynes took a break from writing about the problems of the interwar economy and indulged in a bit of futurology. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2020 Disneyland seems to have lost its passion for futurology, letting what was once an innovative, optimistic, imaginative Tomorrowland slip into a symbol of yesteryear. Rachel Withers, Slate Magazine, 4 Sep. 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of futurology was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near futurology

Cite this Entry

“Futurology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futurology. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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