Pollyanna

American  

[pol-ee-an-uh] / ˌpɒl iˈæn ə /

noun

1. an excessively or blindly optimistic person.

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adjective

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

   some pollyanna notions about world peace.

Pollyanna British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈænə /

noun

1. a person who is constantly or excessively optimistic

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Pollyanna Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

• Pollyannaish adjective
• Pollyannaism noun

Etymology

Origin of Pollyanna

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

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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Salon

I’m not being Pollyanna about this.

From Slate

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.

From Salon

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

From Salon