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.

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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

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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

Explanation

If you're sanguine about a situation, that means you're optimistic that everything's going to work out fine. Sanguine is from Latin sanguis, "blood," and it originally meant "bloody" — in medieval medicine, it described someone whose ruddy complexion was a sign of an optimistic outlook. That was back when people thought that "bodily humors" like blood were responsible for people's attitudes. Now that we no longer believe in humors, sanguine has settled down as a fancy way to say someone is cheerfully confident that things will work out well.

Example Sentences

Not everyone is as sanguine about prospects for a lasting truce as Lee.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

And perhaps, because so many investors have seen this movie before, the reaction is a bit more sanguine.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

When Jalibert walked out of the squad, Galthie remained sanguine.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

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 • Feb. 3, 2026

It wasn’t Lyra’s way to brood; she was a sanguine and practical child, and besides, she wasn’t imaginative.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

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