Orwellian
pronunciation
How to pronounce Orwellian in British English:
UK [ɔ:ˈweliən]
How to pronounce Orwellian in American English:
US [ɔrˈweliən]
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- Adjective:
- of or relating to the works of George Orwell (especially his picture of a future totalitarian state)
Word Origin
- Orwellian (adj.)
- 1950 (first attested in Mary McCarthy), from English author George Orwell (pseudonym of Eric Blair, 1903-1950), especially in reference to his novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Ironically, it has come to be used in reference to the totalitarian systems he satirized.It is as if George Orwell had conceived the nightmare instead of analyzed it, helped to create it instead of helping to dispel its euphemistic thrall. [Clive James]
Example
- 1. War made easy reaches into the orwellian memory ho .
- 2. What a splendidly orwellian notion that is , and he is at least half-way to reaching his goal .
- 3. It is inappropriately orwellian : in free societies , thoughts can be provoked or stimulated or gathered .
- 4. Why should we pay the orwellian licence fee ?
- 5. The committee on public information it was called ( nice orwellian title ) , called also the creel commission .