dystopianism
|dys-to-pi-an-ism|
🇺🇸
/dɪˈstoʊ.pi.ə.nɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/dɪˈstɒ.pi.ə.nɪzəm/
belief or depiction of a 'bad place' (dystopia)
Etymology
'dystopianism' originates from English, specifically the word 'dystopia' plus the suffix '-ism', where 'dys-' meant 'bad' and 'topos' (from Greek) meant 'place'.
'dystopianism' developed from the adjective 'dystopian' (from the noun 'dystopia'), which itself was formed in English as an antonym to 'utopia' (originally from Greek 'ou-topos', 'no place'); the suffix '-ism' was later added in English to form 'dystopianism'.
Initially, the roots conveyed the idea of a 'bad place', but over time the term evolved to denote both the concept/ideology of oppressive societies and the artistic/literary tendency to depict such societies.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the ideology, belief, or condition that envisions, supports, or results in a dystopia — an oppressive, controlled, or degraded society.
Many critics argue that certain policies reflect a creeping dystopianism in modern governance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the artistic or literary tendency/genre characterized by depictions of dystopias (e.g., novels, films, or art that imagine oppressive or nightmarish futures).
Dystopianism in 20th- and 21st-century literature often explores technological control and loss of individuality.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/09 10:30