wishful thinking


noun

interpretation of facts, actions, words, etc., as one would like them to be rather than as they really are; imagining as actual what is not.

Origin of wishful thinking

First recorded in 1925–30

OTHER WORDS FROM wishful thinking

wishful thinker, noun

British Dictionary definitions for wishful thinking

wishful thinking

noun

the erroneous belief that one's wishes are in accordance with reality

Derived forms of wishful thinking

wishful thinker, noun

Idioms and Phrases with wishful thinking

wishful thinking

Interpreting matters as one would like them to be, as opposed to what they really are. For example, Matthew wanted to be a basketball player, but with his height that was wishful thinking. This term comes from Freudian psychology of the mid-1920s and soon began to be used more loosely.