Langimage
English

utopian-inspired

|u-to-pi-an-in-spired|

C1

🇺🇸

/juːˈtoʊpiən ɪnˈspaɪɚd/

🇬🇧

/juːˈtəʊpiən ɪnˈspaɪəd/

idealistic influence

Etymology
Etymology Information

'utopian-inspired' is a compound of 'utopian' and 'inspired'. 'utopian' derives from 'utopia' (coined by Sir Thomas More in 1516), ultimately from Greek ou- + topos meaning 'no place'; 'inspired' comes from Latin 'inspirare' meaning 'to breathe into'.

Historical Evolution

'utopian' developed from the noun 'utopia' (from Thomas More's work) into an adjective meaning 'relating to an ideal society'; 'inspire' passed into English via Old French from Latin 'inspirare', and 'inspired' is the past participle used in compounds. Together they formed the modern compound adjective 'utopian-inspired' to describe things influenced by utopian ideas.

Meaning Changes

Originally, 'utopia' literally meant 'no place' (a fictional ideal) but came to mean an ideal or perfect society; 'inspire' originally meant 'to breathe into' and shifted to mean 'to influence' or 'to stimulate creatively.' The compound now means 'influenced by idealistic/utopian ideas.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

influenced by or reflecting ideas of an idealized, perfect society (a utopia); unrealistically idealistic or visionary.

The architect's utopian-inspired plan emphasized communal spaces and shared resources over private ownership.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/12/05 01:05