dystopia
Say it: dis-TOH-pee-uh /dɪsˈtəʊpiə/ · noun
What “dystopia” means
An imagined society where life is frightening, oppressive or unfair.
More precisely: An imagined society that is oppressive, frightening or deeply unjust.
When to use it
When discussing fictional societies shaped by oppression or injustice, usually in literary criticism or conversations about stories.
Memory trick
Think of utopia turned bad: the Greek prefix dys- means bad.
Similar words
nightmare world, hellscape
Where it comes from
Modelled on utopia, using Greek dus- 'bad'.
Quick check
Your novel imagines a city where rulers ration sunlight and imprison anyone who complains. What kind of society is it?
a dystopia or a utopia?
Show the answer
a dystopia
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