visionist

Visionist is a term used in English to describe a person associated with or promoting a particular vision, but it has no single, universally accepted meaning. In business and leadership discourse, visionist is used to denote someone who prioritizes and communicates a compelling future state—a vision—and aligns strategies, goals, and actions to achieve it. The emphasis is on long-term thinking, transformational change, and the ability to inspire others.

In religious or mystical contexts, a visionist may be a person who reports visions, revelatory experiences, or divine communications. Such individuals are sometimes described as seers or prophets, though visionist is less common than those terms and usage varies by tradition.

In art and culture, the term may appear to describe creators whose work is characterized by vivid, imaginative, or transcendent imagery—often overlapping with the broader concept of visionary art. However, more common terms include visionary or visionary artist; visionist may be used in specific critiques or by niche communities.

Etymology: from Latin visio “a seeing” plus -ist, denoting a person who practices or holds to a principle. The term does not designate a formal ideology or movement on its own, and its meaning is highly context-dependent.