wishful thinking
"Wishful thinking" involves believing something is true or will happen simply because one desires it, often ignoring evidence or rationality.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)Believing something is true or will happen just because one wants it to, without considering evidence.
Example
- Hoping to win the lottery without buying a ticket is just wishful thinking.
C1Psychology
(academic, cognitive bias)A cognitive bias where a person believes an outcome will occur because they desire it, ignoring lack of evidence.
Example
- His belief that he would get the job despite lacking qualifications was mere wishful thinking.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "wishful thinking":