orwellian

adjective
UK: /ɔːˈweliən/
US: /ɔːrˈweliən/

  1. Resembling the oppressive and totalitarian state depicted in George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'.

    1. The new law feels very Orwellian and restricts our freedoms. [ ] [ ]
    2. Surveillance cameras everywhere give this city an Orwellian atmosphere, stifling personal expression. [ ] [ ]

  2. Characteristic of a society or situation in which the government controls nearly every aspect of public and private life.

    1. He warned about the Orwellian dangers of unchecked government power. [ ] [ ]
    2. The constant monitoring of employees' online activity is an Orwellian practice that breeds distrust. [ ] [ ]

  3. Relating to, or evocative of, the dystopian world described by George Orwell, especially with reference to the manipulation of information and mass surveillance.

    1. The politician's speech had an Orwellian doublethink about it. [ ] [ ]
    2. This system, with its pervasive data collection, has a distinctly Orwellian feel to it. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

totalitarian authoritarian oppressive undemocratic

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "orwellian" in English means: Resembling the oppressive and totalitarian state depicted in George Orwell's novel 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'., Characteristic of a society or situation in which the government controls nearly every aspect of public and private life., Relating to, or evocative of, the dystopian world described by George Orwell, especially with reference to the manipulation of information and mass surveillance..

The phonetic transcription of "orwellian" is /ɔːˈweliən/ in British English and /ɔːrˈweliən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "orwellian": totalitarian, authoritarian, oppressive, undemocratic.

Example usage of "orwellian": "The new law feels very Orwellian and restricts our freedoms.". More examples on the page.