Optimist

/ˈɑːptɪmɪst/ noun

Definition

A person who tends to believe that good things will happen and that situations will turn out well.

Etymology

From Latin 'optimus' meaning 'best,' plus the suffix '-ist.' The philosophical movement 'optimism' was popularized in the 1700s by philosophers like Leibniz, though the word evolved to mean simple hopefulness.

Kelly Says

Philosophers debated whether optimism was rational or naive, but psychology shows that people who are optimistic (while still being realistic) actually live longer, healthier, happier lives — so your mindset literally affects your future!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.