Shangri-La
noun /ˌʃæŋ.ɡriˈlɑː/ — A hidden paradise; an imagined perfect place
Definition
An imaginary hidden paradise — a remote, idyllic place where life is perfect and people do not age. Used to describe any utopian retreat from the world.
Beyond the definition
The paradise that requires discovery. Unlike nirvana (within) or Elysium (earned), Shangri-La is somewhere — hidden in mountains, requiring a journey, existing just beyond the map.
Origin & history
Coined by James Hilton in the 1933 novel 'Lost Horizon' — a fictional valley in Tibet where inhabitants live in perfect peace and almost indefinite lifespan. Inspired by Tibetan myths of Shambhala.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
They'd found their Shangri-La — a village with no phone signal and excellent bread.
Every generation imagines its own Shangri-La: the perfect place that solves the problem of ordinary life.
Shangri-La is seductive precisely because it is secret — accessible only to those the place chooses.
Synonyms
Antonyms
dystopia, reality
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Hidden Realm Entrance
A figure steps into a mysterious, sun-dappled clearing within an ancient, dense forest, bathed in an otherworldly, inviting light.
The seclusion and idealized, magical quality of the clearing represent a remote retreat from reality, visually capturing the concept of an imaginary, idyllic, and protected paradise.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration