utopia

noun

uto·​pia yu̇-ˈtō-pē-ə How to pronounce utopia (audio)
Synonyms of utopianext
1
often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions
2
: an impractical scheme for social improvement
3
: an imaginary and indefinitely remote place

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There’s quite literally no place like utopia. In 1516, English humanist Sir Thomas More published a book titled Utopia, which compared social and economic conditions in Europe with those of an ideal society on an imaginary island located off the coast of the Americas. More wanted to imply that the perfect conditions on his fictional island could never really exist, so he called it “Utopia,” a name he created by combining the Greek words ou (“not, no”) and topos (“place”). The earliest generic use of utopia was for an imaginary and indefinitely remote place. The current use of utopia, referring to an ideal place or society, was inspired by More’s description of Utopia’s perfection.

Synonyms

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Examples of utopia in a Sentence

The town's founders wanted to create a Christian utopia. It's a nice place to live, but it's no Utopia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Leading the trend is the Four Seasons Private Jet Experience, a roving utopia in the sky that caters to the traveler who craves both exclusivity and immersion. — Caroline Tell, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 These misperceptions form an illusion of American life suggesting that society is either rapidly approaching a racial utopia for some, or rapidly changing into a country where white influence is waning for others. — Michael W. Kraus, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025 The hallmark of The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick is the sense of dread that mounts while Yvonne grows more and more susceptible to a figment of utopia built on wellness pseudoscience. — Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025 Their policies beckon as a capitalist utopia when compared with Moore’s Maryland. — John Teichert, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for utopia

Word History

Etymology

Utopia, imaginary and ideal country in Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More, from Greek ou not, no + topos place

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of utopia was in 1533

Phrases Containing utopia

Rhymes for utopia

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Browse Nearby Words

Uto-Aztecan
utopia
utopian
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Cite this Entry

“Utopia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utopia. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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utopia

noun
uto·​pia yu̇-ˈtō-pē-ə How to pronounce utopia (audio)
1
often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions
2
: an impractical scheme for social improvement
utopian
-pē-ən
adjective or noun
Etymology

from Utopia, name of an imaginary ideal country in a book Utopia written by Sir Thomas More 1478–1535 English statesman and author; from Greek ou "not, no" and Greek topos "place"

Word Origin
In 1516 the English statesman Sir Thomas More published a book that compared the condition of his England to that of a perfect and imaginary country, Utopia. Everything that was wrong in England was perfect in Utopia. More was trying to show how people could live together in peace and happiness if they only did what he thought was right. But the name he gave his imaginary country showed that he did not really believe perfection could ever be reached. Utopia means, literally, "no place," since it was formed from the Greek ou, meaning "no, not," and topos, "place." Since More's time, utopia has come to mean "a place of ideal perfection." Over the years many books similar to Utopia have been written, and many plans for perfect societies proposed, most of them impractical. Utopia has also come to mean any such scheme or plan.

More from Merriam-Webster on utopia

Nglish: Translation of utopia for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about utopia

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