n.
Pronunciation: ' m ē l-y ə - ˌ ri-z ə m, ' m ē -l ē - ə -
Function: noun
Date: 1877
: the belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment
– me · lio · rist \ -rist \ adjective or noun
– me · lio · ris · tic \ ˌ m ē l-y ə - ' ris-tik, ˌ m ē -l ē - ə - \ adjective