Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

pollyanna

noun

/ˌpɒl.iˈæn.ə/

Definition

A person who is excessively cheerful and optimistic.

Examples

Despite the challenges they faced, she remained a pollyanna, believing everything would turn out fine in the end.
The team called him a pollyanna because he always saw the silver lining in every situation.

Meaning

The term ‘pollyanna’ refers to someone who tends to look on the bright side of life, often to an unrealistic extent. It is derived from the character Pollyanna, from the 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter, who believed that there was always something to be glad about, regardless of the circumstances.