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

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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“If I suddenly came on like Pollyanna, it wouldn’t work — it would frighten people more if I were nice. They’d be paralyzed with fear. And wonder what I was up to. But perhaps I should try it … ‘Hello!

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If it seems like Roberts is too Pollyanna, well, for some players, it works.

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