blue-sky

1 of 3

adjective

ˈblü-ˈskī 

1

: marked by a blue cloudless sky : clear

On a blue-sky day, it's easy to look up into the far-reaching atmosphere and marvel at the wonders that it holds …

—Nick Carbone

2

a

: characterized by unconstrained optimism or imagination : visionary

People need more quiet time to let their creative juices flow, time for blue-sky thinking early in a project, before too many constraints are applied.

—Tim Stevens

For a four-hour block on Saturdays, she might be a CEO in blue-sky mode, thinking exclusively about long-term strategy.

—David Zax

b

: overly optimistic about the future : unrealistic

A world without potential war between major countries was until two years ago the stuff of utopian novels, blue-sky dreams of minds not grounded in reality.

—Tom Clancy

One of the issues that raises its head increasingly in crowdfunding is the danger that people may try and launch dubious campaigns to raise finance for blue-sky products that have no chance of success or even working.

—John Kennedy

3

a

: having little or no value

blue-sky stock

b

: of or relating to blue-sky laws

blue-sky regulations

blue-sky

2 of 3

verb

blue-skied also blue-skyed; blue-skying; blue-skies

transitive + intransitive

: to offer ideas that are conceived by unrestrained imagination or optimism

When you get the developers in a room blue-skying about the things that they want to do, it's incredible—these are really brilliant people who want to do great things.

—Shari Steele

Those people have blue-skied and pushed the envelope and wandered around aimlessly outside the box as if their lives depended upon it.

—Jay Rayner

But innovators, when they blue-sky an idea, don't dwell on words like "equity" and "business plan," he [Patrick Dowd] says. Instead it's about "vision and passion" and daring to fail.

—Richard Leiby

blue sky

3 of 3

noun

plural blue skies

1

: a time or situation marked by easy progress or success

Growth is back to its old powerhouse levels; there seems to be nothing but blue sky ahead on the inflation front.

—Amity Shlaes

Before such blue skies actually arrive, however, several major problems will have to be resolved.

—Harry F. Walters et al.

2

: overly optimistic and unrealistic thinking about the future

But this is all blue sky because … there is nothing remotely close to a commercial prototype.

—Gregg Easterbrook

Examples of blue-sky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

So many of the barriers that face other blue-sky technologies were swept away by the urgency of the pandemic. —Stephen Buranyi, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2023

Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024

Noun

The blue-green plant at the bottom left draws our eye back to the bright blue sky, evoking carefree joy and reminding us of the Thomas poem. —Natasha Gural, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

The cable channels were NBCUniversal’s equivalent of blue skies, routinely delivering three-quarters of the company’s profit. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

blue-sky

adjective

1

: having little or no value

blue-sky stock

2

: of or relating to blue-sky laws