Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PANGLOSSIAN
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"PANGLOSSIAN"
Meaning:
In Voltaire's novel Candide, the character named Dr. Pangloss is ridiculously optimistic. He believes that this world is "the best of all possible worlds."
So when you call someone a Pangloss, or you say that people or things are Panglossian, you mean they are hopeful and confident about everything in a very unrealistic way.
Pronunciation:
pan GLOSS ee un
Part of speech:
Proper adjective.
You always capitalize proper adjectives, like “Korean,” “Shakespearean,” and “Christian,”
although these days, you'll see some people using a lowercase for "Panglossian."
(Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.”
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in “a Panglossian outlook”
2. After a linking verb, as in “Their outlook was Panglossian.”)
Other forms:
"Pangloss" is the noun: you call someone a Pangloss.
You can also use "Panglossian" as a noun (by, again, calling someone a Panglossian.)
The idea or belief is "Panglossianism" and "Panglossism." (Use either.)
How to use it:
Talk about someone being a Pangloss (or a "Dr. Pangloss,") or talk about a Panglossian belief, philosophy, outlook, perspective, or point of view; a Panglossian person, personality, mind, or attitude; a Panglossian prediction, fallacy, statement, or assumption; a Panglossian strategy, plan, or decision, and so on.
As you've probably noticed, being called Panglossian is not a compliment. It's a foolish, unrealistic way of thinking.
This word helps you strongly emphasize a point or exaggerate: "You'd need unlimited funding and unerring Panglossianism to pull this off."
"Panglossian" is also great for drawing a line or making a comparison: "I'm no Panglossian, but I do believe we can do this."
In math lessons, it's just Panglossian foolishness to quit practicing a certain type of problem after you solve a single one correctly. Mastery takes repetition, in addition to varied and spaced practice.
Their Panglossian take on home security systems is that they don't need one, because surely no one would ever try to steal from them.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Panglossian" means when you can explain it without saying "extreme optimism" or "impractical hopefulness."
Think of someone you know who expects miracles or makes unreasonable demands, and fill in the blanks: "It's Panglossian for (a person or group) to expect _____."
Example: "It's Panglossian for administrators to expect classroom teachers to keep every single student engaged for every single second of every class."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
Playing With Words:
This month, we're playing New Word Order! It's a card game that I recently created; it involves figuring out the order in which certain words and phrases entered our language. I'll give you several words and/or phrases, and you'll use your knowledge of history, slang, technology, popular culture, fashion, psychology, etc. to put them into chronological order. I'll post the right answer to each question on the following day. If you like this game, you can download and print it to play with your family and friends. (It's free.)
Yesterday's task was to place "party animal" on this timeline:
Multimedia, 1950
Origami, 1956
Sitcom, 1964
Answer:
Multimedia, 1950
Origami, 1956
Sitcom, 1964
Party animal, 1982
Today, your new timeline looks like this:
Game show, 1953
Buzzworthy, 1980
Latte, 1989
Try to decide where this term belongs on that timeline: "animal rightist."
Special preview of next month's game: In December, we'll be sampling questions from Orijinz, an awesome series of games about words, phrases, and quotes. Click here or on the logo below if you want to go ahead and check them out!

A Point Well Made:
Voltaire: "What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature."
1. The opposite of PANGLOSSIAN is
A. DISASTROUS
B. DECREPIT
C. DESPAIRING
2. Let's _____ and stop all this Panglossian _____.
A. allow the rising tide to lift all boats .. naysaying
B. tackle the problem head-on .. delaying
C. look at some hard data .. daydreaming
Answers are below.
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Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. C
Exploring the archives:
Your Panglossian friends always think that things will go much, much better than they actually will. That might remind you of our term "h___ e____," which is what happens when you overgeneralize how great something is. One of my examples was: "Thanks to its h___ e_____, 'gluten-free' suddenly means '100% good for you.'" Could you recall this term?
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![]() "PANGLOSSIAN"
Pronunciation: Part of speech: Other forms: How to use it:
Voltaire: "What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature."
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