Utopia
noun /juːˈtəʊpɪə/ — An imagined perfect society — invented by Thomas More, and named for its impossibility.
Definition
An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect, especially in laws, government, and social conditions; an ideal society.
Beyond the definition
Thomas More named it cleverly: utopia is Greek for 'no-place.' The ideal society is, by its own name, nowhere. Every utopian project since has run up against this etymology — the perfection is not quite achievable. But the attempt says something important about what we want.
Origin & history
Coined by Thomas More in 1516 from Greek ou (not) + topos (place). Literally: no-place. The ideal society named, in its founding text, as the place that doesn't exist.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He'd given up believing in utopia while keeping the desire for better — which seemed like wisdom.
Every generation builds its utopia on the rubble of the previous one's failed attempt.
The word utopia is its own argument: More named the perfect place 'no-place' and no one has found the error.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Utopia” when the meaning fits your context: An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect, especially in laws, government, and social conditions; an ideal society.
Synonyms
paradise, ideal society, Shangri-La, Eden, heaven on earth
Antonyms
Related words
Utopia vs dystopia
Utopia represents an idealized, perfect social environment. Dystopia describes a nightmarish, dysfunctional society often used as a warning to highlight the failures of current political or social trends.
Compare this word
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
Balanced, perfectly ordered room
An adult in a minimalist, perfectly ordered room carefully arranges three objects on a wooden tray.
The room is balanced, unified, and perfectly curated. This illustrates a state where everything is in its ideal place, conceptually representing an imagined, perfect social condition.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Utopia" mean?
Utopia is noun meaning: An imagined perfect society — invented by Thomas More, and named for its impossibility.. An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect, especially in laws, government, and social conditions; an ideal society.
Where does the word "Utopia" come from?
Coined by Thomas More in 1516 from Greek ou (not) + topos (place). Literally: no-place. The ideal society named, in its founding text, as the place that doesn't exist.