idealism

American  

[ahy-dee-uh-liz-uhm] / aɪˈdi əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

2. the practice of idealizing.

3. something idealized; an ideal representation.

4. Fine Arts. treatment of subject matter in a work of art in which a mental conception of beauty or form is stressed, characterized usually by the selection of particular features of various models and their combination into a whole according to a standard of perfection.

5. Philosophy.

   1. any system or theory that maintains that the real is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas.

   2. the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values.

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idealism British  

/ aɪˈdɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. belief in or pursuance of ideals

2. the tendency to represent things in their ideal forms, rather than as they are

3. any of a group of philosophical doctrines that share the monistic view that material objects and the external world do not exist in reality independently of the human mind but are variously creations of the mind or constructs of ideas Compare materialism dualism

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idealism Cultural  

1. An approach to philosophy that regards mind, spirit, or ideas as the most fundamental kinds of reality, or at least as governing our experience of the ordinary objects in the world. Idealism is opposed to materialism, naturalism, and realism. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was an idealist; so was Immanuel Kant.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-idealism noun
• idealist noun
• idealistic adjective
• idealistically adverb
• overidealism noun

Etymology

Origin of idealism

First recorded in 1790–1800; ideal + -ism, probably modeled on German Idealismus

Explanation

Idealism, as "noble-mindedness," is the belief that we should always strive for our highest ideals. Sometimes, though, idealism is a sort of incurable optimism. It's one thing if you always pursue high-minded goals and right conduct — one definition of idealism. Just be careful to not get so caught up that you fail to see things as they really are — you don't want to go through life "wearing rose-colored glasses" — yet another definition of idealism. In philosophy, idealism is the theory that ideas are the only reality.

Example Sentences

Based on these challenges, Koch suggests it may be necessary to revisit older philosophical ideas like idealism or panpsychism.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

"With his rigour, his courage and his idealism, he embodied a lofty idea of the Republic," said President Emmanuel Macron.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

If idealism outlives youth, ESG investing will grow significantly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

People might, however, remember a moving or historic Oscar speech — a statement from a winner that inspires the exact kind of idealism the show is apparently so intent on bringing to its viewers.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

“He’s out trying to help some other unfortunates right now. It’s encouraging to know that his idealism is still intact.”

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

• accomplishment
• evolution
• excellence
• fulfillment
• ideal
• integrity
• precision
• purity
• quality
• superiority
• supremacy
• transcendence
• virtue