Pollyanna

[ pol-ee-an-uh ]

/ ˌpɒl iˈæn ə /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for Pollyanna on Thesaurus.com

noun

an excessively or blindly optimistic person.

adjective

(often lowercase)Also Pol·ly·an·na·ish. unreasonably or illogically optimistic: some pollyanna notions about world peace.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM Pollyanna

Pol·ly·an·na·ism, noun

Words nearby Pollyanna

pollution, Pollux, poll watcher, poll worker, polly, Pollyanna, pollyfish, polo, polo coat, Polokwane, Polo, Marco

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Pollyanna in a sentence

A couple of years at the White House would turn Pollyanna into Machiavelli.
My Brush With Obama's Top Spook|Christopher Buckley|November 29, 2008|DAILY BEAST
And she turned away—Miss Polly's arrangements for the comfort of her niece, Pollyanna, were complete.
Pollyanna|Eleanor H. Porter
Pollyanna, standing at the bureau, gazed a little wistfully at the bare wall above.
Pollyanna|Eleanor H. Porter
At one of the windows, a few minutes later, Pollyanna gave a glad cry and clapped her hands joyously.
Pollyanna|Eleanor H. Porter

The next moment the window was wide open, and Pollyanna was leaning far out, drinking in the fresh, sweet air.
Pollyanna|Eleanor H. Porter
Pollyanna had made a wonderful discovery—against this window a huge tree flung great branches.
Pollyanna|Eleanor H. Porter

British Dictionary definitions for Pollyanna

Pollyanna

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈænə) /

noun

a person who is constantly or excessively optimistic

Derived forms of Pollyanna

Pollyannaish, adjective

Word Origin for Pollyanna

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Pollyanna

Pollyanna

(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.

notes for Pollyanna

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