optimist

1 of 2

noun (1)

op·​ti·​mist ˈäp-tə-mist 

: a person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes : someone who is given to optimism

The optimists have faith that no matter how avaricious the age, literature will endure.

—Michael Norman

Optimist

2 of 2

noun (2)

Op·​ti·​mist ˈäp-tə-mist 

: a member of a major international service club

Examples of optimist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Green, an excitable optimist, isn’t particularly concerned about the future. —Hank Tucker, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Where an optimist might sit and wait for a bright future to arrive, a hopeful person pulls themselves towards it, often through great effort. —Jamil Zaki, TIME, 23 Nov. 2024

Peled is an optimist and a dreamer, qualities needed around here as much as his virtuosity. —Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 19 Nov. 2024

As the stock market rose, the bond market fell As a New York Times writer noted the other day, stock investors are optimists, while bond investors are pessimists. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

optim(ism) + -ist entry 1, probably after French optimiste

Noun (2)

Optimist (Club)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1759, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1911, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

optimist

noun

op·​ti·​mist

ˈäp-tə-məst

: an optimistic person