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.

---

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

---

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

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

Example Sentences

Tech’s strong earnings, likewise, make him sanguine about the industry’s billions of spending on AI development, especially as he believes the U.S. still has strong advantages over China in this regard.

From Barron's

Tech’s strong earnings, likewise, make him sanguine about the industry’s billions of spending on AI development, especially as he believes the U.S. still has strong advantages over China in this regard.

From Barron's

While the company remains sanguine about AI, Infineon is still grappling with sluggish demand for chips from carmakers, a key market since its automotive business accounts for the lion’s share of sales.

From The Wall Street Journal

His insistence that no one is safe until everyone is safe, can seem to portend a future in which no one will ever be safe, though as a teacher I assume he’s more sanguine.

From Los Angeles Times

That seemed to be the lesson of Europe’s experience post-1945, but this was too sanguine and too simplistic a reading of a complicated history.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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