WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
op•ti•mist
(op′tə mist),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- an optimistic person.
- a person who holds the belief or the doctrine of optimism.
- Latin optim(um) (see optimum) + French -iste -ist
- French optimiste
- 1760–70
op•ti•mism /ˈɑptəˌmɪzəm/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
op•ti•mis•tic, adj.
op•ti•mis•ti•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a tendency to look on the more favorable side or to expect the most favorable outcome or result of events or conditions.
- the belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil and that virtue will be rewarded.
op•ti•mis•tic, adj.
op•ti•mis•ti•cal•ly, adv.
op•ti•mism
(op′tə miz′əm),USA pronunciation n.
- a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
- the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.
- the belief that goodness pervades reality.
- the doctrine that the existing world is the best of all possible worlds.
- Latin optim(um) (see optimum) + French -isme -ism
- French optimisme
- 1730–40
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged confidence, hopefulness, cheerfulness.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged pessimism, cynicism.
'optimist' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):