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Dictionary / optimism

optimism

/ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/ (General-American)/ˈɒptɪmɪzəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • noun
  • from French

A tendency to expect the best, or at least, a favourable outcome.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “optimism” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. uncountableusuallyA tendency to expect the best, or at least, a favourable outcome.

    I love her youth, her beauty and above all her optimism that everything will turn out fine.

  2. uncountableusuallyThe doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
  3. uncountableusuallyThe belief that good will eventually triumph over evil.
Wiktionary: “optimism” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
  1. nounthe optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
  2. nouna general disposition to expect the best in all things
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)optimism
  2. Frenchoptimisme

From French optimisme, equivalent to Latin optimus + -ism.

Wiktionary: “optimism” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “optimism”

cyberoptimismoveroptimismpoptimismtechno-optimism

Related terms

optimaloptimistoptimisticoptimisticallyoptimizationoptimizesuboptimal
Wiktionary: “optimism” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “optimism” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “optimism” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
French
French optimisme
Wiktionary: “optimism” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Wiktionary’s etymology does not give a separate meaning for the earliest form of “optimism”, so we don’t state one. The historical dictionary entry below shows how the word was understood in 1913.

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

optimism n. [L. optimus the best; akin to optio choice: cf. F. optimisme. See Option.]

  1. The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature, being the work of God, is ordered for the best, or that the ordering of things in the universe is such as to produce the highest good.
  2. A habitual tendency or a present disposition to take the most hopeful view of future events, and to expect a favorable outcome even when unfavorable outcomes are possible; -- opposed to pessimism.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: A tendency to expect the best, or at least, a favourable outcome.

I love her youth, her beauty and above all her optimism that everything will turn out fine.

Hanks is known as being an avid reader of history and biography, and seems to seek out stories which offer a certain optimism and humanism. In other words, he plays – fundamentally – good people.2021 February 9, Christina Newland, “Is Tom Hanks part of a dying breed of genuine movie stars?”, in BBC:

Wiktionary: “optimism” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 6

Say it, then spell it

optimism

/ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

optimism

/ˈɑptɪmɪzəm/ · noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “optimism” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) A tendency to expect the best, or at least, a favourable outcome.
2. (noun) The doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
3. (noun) The belief that good will eventually triumph over evil.

Step 3 — History and origin

Which language did “optimism” come into English from?   A. Anglo-Norman  B. French  C. Middle Dutch  D. Ancient Greek

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “optimism” and what each means:

Step 4 — Original meaning

Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 5 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “optimism” to mean: A tendency to expect the best, or at least, a favourable outcome.
Write a sentence using “optimism” to mean: The doctrine that this world is the best of all possible worlds.
Write a sentence using “optimism” to mean: The belief that good will eventually triumph over evil.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — optimism

Origin: B. French (French optimisme)

Journey: English optimism ← French optimisme

Some derivatives: cyberoptimism, overoptimism, poptimism, techno-optimism

Etymology: From French optimisme, equivalent to Latin optimus + -ism.

Sources: Wiktionary “optimism” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/optimism#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/optimism