utopian
UK: juːˈtəʊ.pi.ən | US: juːˈtoʊ.pi.ən
adj. relating to or resembling an idealistic but impractical vision of a perfect society
n. a person who advocates or believes in utopian ideals
utopian = utop<no place> + ian<relating to>
- utop (from Greek ou "not" + topos "place") → Literally "no place," coined by Sir Thomas More in his 1516 work Utopia to describe an imaginary ideal society.
- ian (suffix forming adjectives or nouns) → Denotes "relating to" or "a person associated with."
Etymology Origin:
The term utopian originates from Utopia, the title of Thomas More’s seminal work. By combining Greek ou (not) and topos (place), More created a pun—the fictional island of Utopia was both "no place" (unrealistic) and "good place" (ideal). Over time, utopian evolved to describe any visionary but impractical ideal, reflecting the tension between idealism and reality.
The architect presented a utopian design for a pollution-free city.
Her utopian dreams often clashed with the harsh realities of politics.
Many 19th-century reformers were labeled as utopians for their radical visions.
The novel depicts a utopian society where poverty and war no longer exist.
Critics argue that his plans are utopian and lack practical implementation.