ideal

[ahy-dee-uhl, ahy-deel]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ideal ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a conception of something in its perfection.

a standard of perfection or excellence.

a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model for imitation: Thomas Jefferson was his ideal.

an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, especially one of high or noble character: He refuses to compromise any of his ideals.

something that exists only in the imagination: To achieve the ideal is almost hopeless.

Mathematics. a subring of a ring, any element of which when multiplied by any element of the ring results in an element of the subring.

adjective

conceived as constituting a standard of perfection or excellence: ideal beauty.

regarded as perfect of its kind: an ideal spot for a home.

existing only in the imagination; not real or actual: Nature is real; beauty is ideal.

advantageous; excellent; best: It would be ideal if she could accompany us as she knows the way.

based upon an ideal or ideals: the ideal theory of numbers.

Philosophy.

pertaining to a possible state of affairs considered as highly desirable.
pertaining to or of the nature of idealism.

Nearby words

Origin of ideal

From the Late Latin word ideālis, dating back to 1605–15. See idea, -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR ideal

1, 2. epitome. 4. intention, objective. 7. perfect, consummate, complete. 9. illusory, imaginary, fanciful, fantastic.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ideal ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

i·de·al·ness, nounqua·si-i·de·al, adjectivequa·si-i·de·al·ly, adverbsub·i·de·al, adjective, noun

su·per·i·de·al, adjective, nounsu·per·i·de·al·ly, adverbun·i·de·al, adjective

Synonym study

1, 2. Ideal, example, model refer to something considered as a standard to strive toward or something considered worthy of imitation. An ideal is a concept or standard of perfection, existing merely as an image in the mind, or based upon a person or upon conduct: We admire the high ideals of a religious person. Sir Philip Sidney was considered the ideal in gentlemanly conduct. An example is a person or the conduct or achievements of a person regarded as worthy of being followed or imitated in a general way; or sometimes, as properly to be avoided: an example of courage; a bad example to one's children. A model is primarily a physical shape to be closely copied, but is also a pattern for exact imitation in conduct or character: They took their leader as a model.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ideal

The land at Easter Elchies was the ideal place for Reid to set up his business.
Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I reached out with heartfelt pleas, and spoke to people that I felt were ideal—and I was right in most cases.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle|Marlow Stern|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem comes at this point because the liquid loses its potency within an hour even in ideal conditions.
Powdered Measles Vaccine Could Be Huge for Developing World|Kent Sepkowitz|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I said “refugees,” that stood for the ideal of everything I did when I ran for president.
Wyclef Jean Talks Lauryn Hill, the Yele Haiti Controversy, and Chris Christie|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Artists now consider the Ideal Palace a piece of “naive” or “outsider” art.
The Postman Who Built a Palace in France…by Hand|Nina Strochlic|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The banks on each side were high and steep, making it far from an ideal fording place.
The Pony Rider Boys in Texas|Frank Gee Patchin
It can therefore no longer call forth reverence, or be treated as an independent aim and ideal.
Ethics and Modern Thought|Rudolf Eucken
In this material and in such forms, the ideal as concrete spirituality does not admit of being realized.
The Introduction to Hegel's Philosophy of Fine Arts|Georg Hegel
Like our ideal magnets, they approach each other for a time as wholes.
Six Lectures on Light|John Tyndall
The modern European ideal of a torpedo boat is a craft 152 feet long, with a beam of 15¼ feet.
Last Words|Stephen Crane

British Dictionary definitions for ideal

ideal

noun

a conception of something that is perfect, esp that which one seeks to attain

a person or thing considered to represent perfectionhe's her ideal

something existing only as an idea

a pattern or model, esp of ethical behaviour

adjective

conforming to an ideal

of, involving, or existing in the form of an idea

philosophy

of or relating to a highly desirable and possible state of affairs
of or relating to idealism

Derived Formsideality (ˌaɪdɪˈælɪtɪ), nounideally, adverbidealness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ideal

ideal

adj.

early 15c., "pertaining to an archetype or model," from Late Latin idealis "existing in idea," from Latin idea in the Platonic sense (see idea). Sense of "perfect" first recorded 1610s.

ideal

"perfect person or thing," 1796, in a translation of Kant, from ideal (adj.).

Medicine definitions for ideal

ideal

[ī-dē′əl, ī-dēl′]

n.

A conception of something in its absolute perfection.

One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence.

ideal

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of ideal

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for ideal

ideal

noun

adjective

ideal

ideal

ideal

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