optimist

1 of 2

noun (1)

op·​ti·​mist ˈäp-tə-mist How to pronounce optimist (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce Optimist (audio)
: a member of a major international service club

Examples of optimist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On one side were those captivated by growth—the optimists who cheered on rising revenues and loved backing a winning horse. Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 But even Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives, long known as one of Tesla’s most prominent optimists on Wall Street, said that sales demand will be down 10% permanently due to Musk’s political profile. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025 One journalist recently described you as a professional optimist. John Blake, CNN Money, 14 June 2025 The father, Buddy Smart (Bryan Cranston), is the clan’s second-rate crackpot visionary, a cockeyed optimist who dresses in fuddy-duddy jackets and never knows where the next paycheck is coming from. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for optimist

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of optimist was in 1759

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Cite this Entry

“Optimist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optimist. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

optimist

noun
op·​ti·​mist
ˈäp-tə-məst
: an optimistic person

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