sanguine

American  

[sang-gwin] / ˈsæŋ gwɪn /

adjective

1. cheerfully optimistic, sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, oblivious, or naive.

   a sanguine disposition;

   sanguine expectations.

   Synonyms:

   positive, optimistic, hopeful, confident, cheerful, buoyant, assured

   Antonyms:

   morose

2. reddish; ruddy.

   a sanguine complexion.

3. (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc.

4. bloody; sanguinary.

5. blood-red; red.

6. Heraldry. a reddish-purple tincture.

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noun

1. a red iron-oxide crayon used in making drawings.

sanguine British  

/ ˈsæŋɡwɪn /

adjective

1. cheerful and confident; optimistic

2. (esp of the complexion) ruddy in appearance

3. blood-red

4. an obsolete word for sanguinary

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noun

1. Also called: red chalk.  a red pencil containing ferric oxide, used in drawing

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsanguinely
  adverb
• nonsanguineness
  noun
• quasi-sanguine
  adjective
• supersanguinity
  noun
• quasi-sanguinely
  adverb
• sanguineness
  noun
• nonsanguine
  adjective
• oversanguine
  adjective
• unsanguinely
  adverb
• oversanguineness
  noun
• sanguinely
  adverb
• unsanguine
  adjective
• oversanguinely
  adverb
• supersanguine
  adjective
• sanguinness
  noun
• sanguinity
  noun
• presanguine
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sanguine

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sanguyne “a blood-red cloth,” from Old French sanguin, from Latin sanguineus “bloody,” equivalent to sanguin-, stem of sanguis “blood” + -eus -eous

Explanation

If you're sanguine about a situation, that means you're optimistic that everything's going to work out fine. Sanguine is from Latin sanguis, "blood," and it originally meant "bloody" — in medieval medicine, it described someone whose ruddy complexion was a sign of an optimistic outlook. That was back when people thought that "bodily humors" like blood were responsible for people's attitudes. Now that we no longer believe in humors, sanguine has settled down as a fancy way to say someone is cheerfully confident that things will work out well.

Example Sentences

Nancy Tengler, CEO and chief investment officer at Laffer Tengler Investments, is similarly sanguine.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Not everybody is as sanguine about the risks tied to prediction markets.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Another, sitting next to me, was equally sanguine.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

Russell is sanguine about that, and points out that the fact that Mercedes are dominating somewhat skews the dynamic of the contest.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

When the man was Lancelot who was mad on God in any case, you had to be both sanguine and cruel to expect him like that at alL But women are cruel in this way.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• buoyant
• cheerful
• confident
• enthusiastic
• hopeful
• upbeat