futuristic

adjective

fu·​tur·​is·​tic ˌfyü-chə-ˈri-stik How to pronounce futuristic (audio)
1
: very modern
futuristic furniture/designs
On Friday, Germany and Costa Rica will meet in a futuristic, translucent-skinned stadium in Munich to kick off the monthlong mosh pit known as the World Cup.Grant Wahl
2
a
: relating to, describing, or depicting events in an imagined future
a futuristic novel/story/film
b
: imagined, described, or depicted as occurring or existing in the future
A space elevator … is a futuristic structure, made famous by science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke in his 1979 novel The Fountains of Paradise.Adam Brown
The Space Rangers are a group of futuristic troubleshooters who zoom around the galaxy in a battle-scarred spaceship, …Alan Carter
… the long-awaited sequel to the classic Blade Runner is about to hit cinemas featuring more … frenzied futuristic action.James Moore
futuristically adverb

Examples of futuristic in a Sentence

The new offices are very futuristic. The film depicts a futuristic society.
Recent Examples on the Web Recent graduates joining Boeing can work on products currently in use, rather than futuristic ideas locked in long and potentially dead-end development cycles. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Clarence surveils the Oxford Five, the most promising of whom, Jin Cheng (Jess Hong), receives from Vera’s grieving mother (Rosalind Chao) a futuristic, Oculus Rift-style helmet that virtually transports her to another realm. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 However, when the age of Y2K arrived, futuristic music videos were in. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Mar. 2024 From the rise of smart appliances to the portrayal of futuristic furnishings in movies like Clueless, technology and home decor can go together like a comforter and duvet cover. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The dress' hem was adorned with golden, sculptural details for a striking, futuristic effect. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 In the March 1987 issue of Popular Science, writer Jim Schefter tested the device with its big futuristic promises and hours-long setup time. Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 Unsurprisingly, the car doesn’t have the futuristic powertrain that Jaguar had initially teased. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024 Keep in mind that Dubai isn’t the greatest city for pedestrians — and, while Dubai Design District (or D3), a creative hub of designers and cool cafés, is just behind The Lana, a knot of futuristic highways separate the two (although plans are in the works for a shuttle service). Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'futuristic.' 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

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of futuristic was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near futuristic

Cite this Entry

“Futuristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futuristic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

futuristic

adjective
fu·​tur·​is·​tic ˌfyü-chə-ˈris-tik How to pronounce futuristic (audio)
: being or resembling the style or type predicted for the future
futuristic furniture
futuristically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on futuristic

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