envisage or envision? These two words are synonymous in the sense of ‘to form a mental picture of (something), esp in advance’: The group envisages a future in which all farming will be organic. Envisage is more commonly used in British English; envision in American English. The meaning is quite close to that of expect, but the distinction should be preserved, and expect should be used in place of envisage in sentences such as A further fall in interest rates is expected – not envisaged – next month