visionary
VIZH-un-air-ee
/ˈvɪʒənɛri/
(n) A person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like; (adj) thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom.
A highly positive term for someone who sees possibilities that others miss.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'visio', meaning 'the act of seeing.' A visionary is literally someone who can 'see' what is not yet there.
Word relationships
- prophet: Visionary is more secular and often applied to business or art; prophet is more religious.
- pragmatist: A pragmatist focuses on what is practical now; a visionary focuses on what could be.
Commonly confused with
- dreamer: A dreamer may lack a plan; a visionary often has a clear, albeit bold, plan.
Word family
- vision (noun): the faculty or state of being able to see
Collocations
- visionary leader
- visionary thinking
- visionary project
Example sentences
- "The visionary lies to himself, the liar only to others." Philosophy
- "Steve Jobs is often cited as a visionary who changed the way we interact with technology." Technology
Memory hook
A 'visionary' has a 'vision' that others can't see yet. Seeing the unseen future.
When not to use
Don't use for someone who is merely 'dreamy' or unrealistic in a negative way; it implies a degree of brilliance.
Fun facts
- The word 'visionary' was once used to describe people who had religious hallucinations.
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