a conception of perfect beauty.
a model of excellence.
First recorded in 1795–1805, beau ideal is from French beau idéal literally, “ideal beauty.” See beau, ideal
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s not surprising that Mr. Serrano found his way to Ms. Wilson, who, like Mr. Duncan, the author’s beau ideal of a player, “banks in beauty.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
Their friendship was the beau ideal of warrior comrades.
From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2022
The reporters’ beau ideal of a boxer was the laconic Joe Louis.
From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2016
Lipsyte: One of the reasons that the older reporters were antagonistic to him, besides the fact that he wasn’t laconic like Joe Louis, their beau ideal, was the unorthodoxy of his style.
From Slate • Jun. 4, 2016
It was a beau ideal; at least Rupert and Archie and Elsie thought so, and even Mr Walton and Branson said the same.
From From Squire to Squatter A Tale of the Old Land and the New by Stables, Gordon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
