Etymology From Middle English visioun, from Anglo-Norman visioun, from Old French vision, from Latin vīsiō (“vision, seeing”), noun of action from the perfect passive participle visus (“that which is seen”), from the verb videō (“to see”) + action noun suffix -iō.
[…]For to a Viſion ſo apparant, Rumor / Cannot be mute[…]c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
It was the Lost Oasis, the Oasis of the vision in the sand. […] Deep-hidden in the hollow, beneath the cliffs, it lay; and round it the happy verdure spread for many a rood. […] Yes, the quest was ended, the Lost Oasis was the Found!1892, James Yoxall, chapter 7, in The Lonely Pyramid:
3
Something imaginary one thinks one sees.
He tried drinking from the pool of water, but realized it was only a vision.
Visitations are a commonly reported afterlife phenomenon. For example, a dying patient has a vision of her mother, who has been dead for twenty years.2005, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, David Kessler, On Grief and Grieving, →ISBN, page 107:
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Broadly Something unreal or imaginary; a creation of fancy.
For having the Idea of any thing in our Mind, no more proves the Exiſtence of that Thing, than the Picture of a Man evidences his being in the World, or the Viſions of a Dream make thereby a true Hiſtory.1690, John Locke, “Of our Knowledge of the Existence of other Things”, in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, volume II, London: A. Bettesworth et al., published 1735, book III, page 250:
5
Broadly A perceived potential future event or occurrence.
I know you wanted me to stay But I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA2020 April 3, Chappell Roan, Dan Nigro, “Pink Pony Club”performed by Chappell Roan:
Gilead has always been a chilling vision of what America might become if right-wing theocrats seized absolute power and stripped women of all independence.2026 May 27, Judy Berman, “When Did On-Screen Weddings Get So Bleak?”, in TIME, archived from the original on 28 May 2026:
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An ideal or a goal toward which one aspires.
He worked tirelessly toward his vision of world peace.
To achieve their vision, they enlisted the local architectural designer Marcie Banks of Clementine Construction.2026 May 23, Ingrid Abramovitch, “Big Easy Does It”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 22:
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General aspiration; forward-thinkingness.
I can't stand this indecision Married with a lack of vision Everybody wants to rule the—1985, Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, in Songs from the Big Chair, performed by Tears for Fears:
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A religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance.
Etymology From Middle English visioun, from Anglo-Norman visioun, from Old French vision, from Latin vīsiō (“vision, seeing”), noun of action from the perfect passive participle visus (“that which is seen”), from the verb videō (“to see”) + action noun suffix -iō.