# visionary

/ˈvɪʒəˌnɛɹi/ (US) · /vˈɪʒənəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/visionary
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a creative leader

noun · CEFR B2

someone who has very creative and original ideas about what the future could be like.

For teachers: a person with original and progressive ideas about how a field, business, or society will develop in the future.

- The company's founder was a visionary who predicted the rise of smartphones.
- The tech industry mourned the loss of a true visionary whose early patents laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication.

### 2. having foresight

adjective · CEFR B2

having or showing clear and creative ideas about the future.

For teachers: possessing or showing clear, creative, and original ideas about what the future will be like.

- Her visionary leadership helped the small charity grow into a global organization.
- The architect was praised for his visionary approach to urban planning, which integrated green spaces into high-density residential zones.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 3. idealistic or impractical

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing an idea that is very bold but might be impossible to achieve.

For teachers: relating to or characterized by idealistic, utopian, or potentially impractical schemes.

- Some critics dismissed the plan for a city on Mars as a visionary dream.
- While the proposal was admired for its ambition, many board members considered it too visionary for the current economic climate.

Teaching tip: In formal contexts, this can be a 'backhanded compliment' meaning the idea is beautiful but totally unrealistic.

### 4. a religious seer

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a person who sees religious visions or has deep spiritual experiences.

For teachers: a person who experiences religious or spiritual visions; a seer.

- The village treated the young girl as a visionary after she claimed to see an angel.
- Historical accounts describe the mystic as a visionary who provided counsel to kings based on his nightly revelations.

## Examples

- The tech company was founded by a visionary who changed how we communicate.
- Critics initially dismissed her architectural plans as impossible, but history proved her to be a visionary.
- While many leaders focus on quarterly profits, a true visionary anticipates the shifting cultural landscape decades in advance and prepares the organization for a world that does not yet exist.

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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.