Dystopia
/dɪsˈtoʊ.pi.ə/noun
An imagined society characterized by suffering and injustice, often under totalitarian rule.
Did you know?The term 'dystopia' was coined in the 19th century as a counter to 'utopia', which means 'good place'; ironically, its roots reflect a vision of societal decay.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
οὐ
“not”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τόπος
“place”
19th Century
English
dystopia
“a term created to describe a 'bad place', contrasting with 'utopia'.”
Modern English
English
dystopia
“a bleak vision of the future, often depicting oppressive societal control.”
Explore more surprising origins