Fantasist: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who has an overactive imagination and creates stories that are highly unlikely or impossible. Often has a negative connotation.

• Mark is a fantasist who always talks about meeting aliens and traveling through time.
• The new employee turned out to be a fantasist, making up stories that nobody believed.

Refers to someone who has big ideas or aspirations, often lost in their thoughts and imaginations, but may not always take practical steps toward making them a reality.

• She was a dreamer who believed in building a world free of poverty.
• As a child, Tim was always a dreamer, thinking about exploring distant planets.

Used for someone who has original and innovative ideas about what the future could be like, often recognized for their forward-thinking and creativity. Generally has a positive connotation.

• Steve Jobs was considered a visionary in the world of technology.
• Her visionary approach to education could revolutionize the school system.

Describes someone who indulges in fantasies, daydreams or imagines scenarios for pleasure or escapism, without intending to make them real. Can have a neutral to slightly negative connotation.

• Jake often sits by the window, a fantasizer lost in thoughts of winning the lottery.
• As a budding writer, she's a natural fantasizer, creating elaborate stories in her head.

Typically used to describe someone who invents stories, often with a sense of delusion or deceit. It can imply a lack of grounding in reality.

• He's a fantasist who believes he could have been a rock star if he just had the chance.
• The novel's main character is a fantasist, constantly fabricating tales of grandeur.

Refers to someone who frequently drifts into pleasant, dreamy thoughts, especially during tasks that require focus. The term is generally neutral or slightly positive in tone.

• She was always known as a daydreamer, often getting lost in her thoughts during class.
• Daydreamers can often come up with the most creative ideas.

Describes a person who seeks to avoid reality by engaging in activities or fantasies. It often carries a negative connotation, implying avoidance of real-life responsibilities.

• As an escapist, he spends hours playing virtual reality games to avoid his problems.
• The story offers an escapist fantasy for those wanting to get away from everyday life.

Used in more formal or clinical discussions to describe someone who has an unusually vivid imagination and often retreats into their fantasies. This term is neutral and descriptive.

• A therapist might identify someone as a fantasy-prone individual if they spend significant time engaged in elaborate daydreams.
• Fantasy-prone individuals are often highly creative but may struggle with distinguishing fantasy from reality.