Pollyanna creep

noun

The practice of a government modifying the way that economic measures are calculated, in order to give a more optimistic impression of economic development.

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Meanings

nounPollyanna creep (uncountable)
  1. uncountableeconomicsThe practice of a government modifying the way that economic measures are calculated, in order to give a more optimistic impression of economic development.

Origin

Coined by the economic analyst and statistician John Williams, from Pollyanna (“one who is persistently cheerful and optimistic”).

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Cite this entry
APA

Pollyanna creep. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pollyanna%20creep

MLA

“Pollyanna creep.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pollyanna%20creep. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pollyanna creep,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pollyanna%20creep.

Source: Pollyanna creep on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.