noun
wishful thinking
WISH-fuhl THING-king
Wishful thinking (noun) means the belief that something is true or will happen because you want it to, rather than because there is any evidence for it. Example: “Expecting the debt to clear itself is wishful thinking.”
noun
1
The belief that something is true or will happen because you want it to, rather than because there is any evidence for it.
"Expecting the debt to clear itself is wishful thinking."
"Their forecast of a summer recovery looks like wishful thinking to me."
How to use wishful thinking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelieving something because you want it to be true, not because it is.
When to use it
Neutral to mildly critical. Calling someone's view wishful thinking is a polite way of saying it is unrealistic.
Memory tip
It is uncountable — say "that is wishful thinking", never "a wishful thinking".
Easily confused with
wishful thinking vs optimism
wishful thinking vs magical thinking
Common pairings
nothing but wishful thinking
that's just wishful thinking
wishful thinking on their part
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wishful thinking.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Expecting the debt to clear itself is _____.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wishful thinking
See all rhymes for wishful thinking →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between wishful thinking and optimism?
An optimist expects a good outcome but still accepts the evidence and prepares for the alternative. Wishful thinking ignores or reinterprets the evidence so that the desired outcome seems certain. Optimism is an attitude; wishful thinking is a reasoning error.
Is wishful thinking a logical fallacy?
Yes, it is generally classed as an informal fallacy: concluding that something is true because you want it to be. It is sometimes called the appeal to consequences when the argument is that a claim must be false because the consequences would be unpleasant.
Is calling something wishful thinking an insult?
It is a criticism rather than an insult. It says the person's reasoning is driven by hope, which is dismissive of the argument but not of the person.
What is the meaning of wishful thinking?
"wishful thinking" (noun) means the belief that something is true or will happen because you want it to, rather than because there is any evidence for it.
