dystopia
UK[dɪˈstəʊ.pi.ə]US[dɪˈstoʊ.pi.ə]
n
an imaginary place or state in which everything is extremely bad or unpleasant, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.
n
a work of fiction describing such a place or state.
Morpheme Breakdown
dys
topia
dys
bad
topia
place
Etymology
the term dystopia is a modern formation, coined in the 19th century as the logical opposite of 'utopia'. it directly combines the greek prefix 'dys-', meaning 'bad' or 'difficult', with the element '-topia', derived from sir thomas more's 'utopia' (itself from greek 'ou' [not] + 'topos' [place]). while 'utopia' literally means 'no place' and came to signify an ideal society, 'dys-topia' explicitly denotes a 'bad place'. the word's construction follows a clear, almost mathematical logic, using classical morphemes to create a concept that critically reflects fears of oppressive societal control and catastrophic futures.
Analysis
Structure: dys (bad) + topia (place)
dys- (greek origin, a prefix meaning 'bad', 'hard', or 'ill'). -topia (from greek 'topos', meaning 'place', via the english word 'utopia').
Examples
the novel depicts a grim dystopia where individual thought is forbidden.
many view the constant surveillance in the story as a hallmark of a dystopian society.
the film is a chilling vision of an environmental dystopia.