Visionary vs. Revolutionary — What's the Difference?

Defined broadly, a visionary is one who can envision the future. For some groups this can involve the supernatural.

A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.

Characterized by vision or foresight.

Often Revolutionary Relating to or being a revolution

Having the nature of fantasies or dreams; illusory.

Bringing about or supporting a political or social revolution

Existing in imagination only; imaginary.

Marked by or resulting in radical change

Characterized by or given to apparitions, prophecies, or revelations.

A militant in the struggle for revolution.

Given to daydreams or reverie; dreamy.

A supporter of revolutionary principles.

Not practicable or realizable; utopian

Of or pertaining to a revolution in government; tending to, or promoting, revolution

Tending to envision things in perfect but unrealistic form; idealistic.

Pertaining to something that portends of great change; overthrowing a standing mindset

One who is given to impractical or speculative ideas; a dreamer.

(sciences) pertaining to something that revolves

One who has visions; a seer.

A revolutionist; a person who revolts.

Having vision or foresight

Of or pertaining to a revolution in government; tending to, or promoting, revolution; as, revolutionary war; revolutionary measures; revolutionary agitators.

Imaginary or illusory

A revolutionist.

Prophetic or revelatory

A radical supporter of political or social revolution

Idealistic or utopian

Markedly new or introducing radical change;

Someone who has visions; a seer.

Relating to or having the nature of a revolution;

An impractical dreamer.

Advocating or engaged in revolution;

Someone who has positive ideas about the future.

Of or pertaining to a visions or visions; characterized by, appropriate to, or favorable for, visions.

Affected by phantoms; disposed to receive impressions on the imagination; given to reverie; apt to receive, and act upon, fancies as if they were realities.

Existing in imagination only; not real; fanciful; imaginary; having no solid foundation; as, visionary prospect; a visionary scheme or project.

One whose imagination is disturbed; one who sees visions or phantoms.

One whose imagination overpowers his reason and controls his judgment; an unpractical schemer; one who builds castles in the air; a daydreamer.

A person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible

A person with unusual powers of foresight

Not practical or realizable; speculative;