noun
Pollyanna
po-lee-A-nuh
noun
1
Someone who stays relentlessly upbeat and optimistic, even when the situation gives them every reason not to be.
"Her coworkers called her a pollyanna for insisting the failed launch was actually a great learning experience."
"Don't be such a pollyanna about it — the numbers really are bad this quarter."
2
A gift exchange (often called Secret Santa) where each participant draws a name and buys a present for that person.
"The office pollyanna had a $20 spending limit this year."
How to Use Pollyanna
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who looks on the bright side no matter what — sometimes said admiringly, sometimes as a gentle jab at being unrealistic.
Common mistake
Usually used a little critically, implying the optimism is naive rather than simply positive.
Common pairings
a bit of a pollyanna
pollyanna attitude
Word Forms
Pollyannas plural, Pollyannas plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Pollyanna”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her coworkers called her a _____ for insisting the failed launch was actually a great learning experience.
Etymology
From the cheerful title character of Eleanor H. Porter's 1913 novel "Pollyanna," whose name later became a byword for unshakeable optimism.