ideal

American  

[ahy-dee-uhl, ahy-deel] / aɪˈdi əl, aɪˈdil /

noun

• ideals
  plural

1. a conception of something in its perfection.

   Synonyms:

   epitome

2. a standard of perfection or excellence.

   Synonyms:

   epitome

3. 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.

4. an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, especially one of high or noble character.

   He refuses to compromise any of his ideals.

   Synonyms:

   objective, intention

5. something that exists only in the imagination.

   To achieve the ideal is almost hopeless.

6. 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

1. conceived as constituting a standard of perfection or excellence.

   ideal beauty.

   Synonyms:

   complete, consummate, perfect

2. regarded as perfect of its kind.

   an ideal spot for a home.

3. existing only in the imagination; not real or actual.

   Nature is real; beauty is ideal.

   Synonyms:

   fantastic, fanciful, imaginary, illusory

4. advantageous; excellent; best.

   It would be ideal if she could accompany us as she knows the way.

5. based upon an ideal or ideals.

   the ideal theory of numbers.

6. Philosophy.

   1. pertaining to a possible state of affairs considered as highly desirable.

   2. pertaining to or of the nature of idealism.

ideal British  

/ aɪˈdɪəl, ˌaɪdɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

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

2. a person or thing considered to represent perfection

   he's her ideal

3. something existing only as an idea

4. a pattern or model, esp of ethical behaviour

---

adjective

1. conforming to an ideal

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

3. philosophy

   1. of or relating to a highly desirable and possible state of affairs

   2. of or relating to idealism

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ideality
  noun
• idealness
  noun
• quasi-ideal
  adjective
• subideal
  adjective
• superideal
  adjective
• unideal
  adjective
• ideally
  adverb
• quasi-ideally
  adverb
• superideally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ideals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ideal

From the Late Latin word ideālis, dating back to 1605–15. See idea, -al ¹

Explanation

An ideal is a model of something perfect or without equal. As an adjective, ideal describes this ultimate standard for excellence, or something that exists only as an idea. When we talk about what's ideal, we often refer to a best-case scenario (it would be ideal if you were well-rested before your exam); what we're striving for (it would be ideal for all children to receive an education); or some idea of perfection (the ideal date would be dinner with your favorite movie star). If you have high ideals, you have very strong beliefs about what is good and right, and maybe even how best to save the world.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ideal ideals

Sleep offered researchers an ideal way to explore that question because mounting evidence suggests that sleep plays an important role in health.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Too tight for a carriage, but spacious enough for the single-passenger sedan chairs carried by humans back in the day, they are now ideal for single-file strolling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

For Root, the innings victory sealed inside three days against Pakistan was the ideal start to his second spell as captain.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

“I imagine that no fan feels particularly comfortable if the owner of their favorite team is under ... investigation. Certainly, it’s not an ideal situation,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Again, I know this isn’t the most ideal plan ever.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Those who stand up for their ideals and principles without compromise, and seek to communicate them clearly, certainly won’t win every election, and they may well suffer for their convictions.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

"We had to rebuild our lives from scratch," De Zerbi told Lamrani, who says the Italian remains "true to the ideals of his youth and to his working-class roots".

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

The plan is “long on ideals but very short on specifics,” the bank says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

But he was also a man torn between deeply conflicting ideals, who harbored a profound resentment against many things that had been embedded in him during the early years of a puritan New England upbringing.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• excellent
• fitting
• optimal
• quintessential