Pollyanna

[pol-ee-an-uh]

noun

1. an excessively or blindly optimistic person.

adjective

1. (often lowercase),  Also Pollyannaish. unreasonably or illogically optimistic.

   some pollyanna notions about world peace.

Pollyanna

/ ˌpɒlɪˈænə /

noun

1. a person who is constantly or excessively optimistic

Pollyanna

1. (1913) A children's book by the American author Eleanor H. Porter. The title character is an orphan girl who, despite the difficulties of her life, is always extremely cheerful.

A “Pollyanna” remains excessively sweet-tempered and optimistic even in adversity.

Other Word Forms

• Pollyannaism noun
• Pollyannaish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pollyanna¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from the name of the child heroine in the novel Pollyanna (1913), written by Eleanor Hodgman Porter (1868–1920), American writer

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pollyanna¹

C20: after the chief character in Pollyanna (1913), a novel by Eleanor Porter (1868–1920), US writer

Example Sentences

“We’re literally just having a good time. There’s no left or right. Everyone is just in it, and having a good time. I see the experience of people coming through with the kids, and everyone is just so happy. Can’t we have that throughout the world? I know it’s Pollyanna thinking, but we can give this little section of Van Nuys happiness.”

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That said, Stiller’s slightly Pollyanna approach does feel ironically cold at times, as if there are things he’s holding back, whether for the sake of preserving his parents’ memories or to keep hold of his own privacy.

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I’m not being Pollyanna about this.

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Life doesn’t screech to a halt after a Pollyanna rom-com ending, just like love isn’t cast in amber, destined to be preserved forever.

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I know sound kind of like a Pollyanna talking about this, but that's genuinely what I believe.

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