# dystopian

/dɪstˈəʊpiən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dystopian
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

describing a future world where everything is very bad, scary, or unfair. You often see this in books or movies where a powerful government controls everyone.

For teachers: relating to or denoting an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic. Often used to describe speculative fiction that explores social and political structures.

## Examples

- The movie shows a dystopian future where robots rule the world.
- Many young adult novels feature a dystopian setting where teenagers must fight against a corrupt and controlling government.
- Critics argue that the author's latest work presents a dystopian vision of urban decay, where surveillance technology has completely eroded the boundary between public and private life.

## Usage notes

- Often used to modify nouns like 'future', 'society', 'novel', or 'vision'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.