Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

forlorn-hope

noun

/fɔːˈlɔːrn hoʊp/

Definition

A hope that is unlikely to be realized; a desperate or hopeless expectation.

Examples

Despite his forlorn hope of winning the lottery, he still bought a ticket every week.
Her forlorn hope that they would reconcile kept her from moving on.
They clung to a forlorn hope of finding a cure that might save him.

Meaning

The term refers to a wish or expectation that is almost certain to fail, often used in contexts where there is a feeling of despair related to the unattainable.