idealist

American  

[ahy-dee-uh-list] / aɪˈdi ə lɪst /

noun

1. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

   Synonyms:

   utopianist, visionary, reformer, perfectionist, optimist

   Antonyms:

   cynic, skeptic, pragmatist

2. a visionary or impractical person.

   Synonyms:

   stargazer, dreamer, romanticist, romantic

   Antonyms:

   materialist, realist

3. a person who represents things as they might or should be rather than as they are.

   My friend is an idealist, who somehow thinks that we always agree.

4. a writer or artist who treats subjects imaginatively.

5. a person who accepts the doctrines of philosophical idealism, as by representing things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are.

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adjective

1. of or relating to idealism or idealists; idealistic.

Pop Culture

—Idealist.org: a job-search website that connects people who want to work or volunteer their services with not-for-profit organizations.

Other Word Forms

• anti-idealist noun
• hyperidealist noun
• superidealist noun

Etymology

Origin of idealist

First recorded in 1695–1705; ideal + -ist

Explanation

An idealist is someone who envisions an ideal world rather than the real one. Some people consider idealists to be naive, impractical, and out of touch with reality. Idealists think that striving for perfection makes the world a better place. The main root of idealist is "ideal," which comes from the Latin word idea. As an idealist, you think everyone should act in the best interest of the group. Ideally, everyone would agree with you, but the unfortunate reality is that lots of people act solely in their own self-interest. Words that are related to idealist include "idealize," "idealism," and "ideally."

Example Sentences

Mr. Pollan’s journey leads him to an emerging brew of physics, psychedelics, Zen meditation and idealist philosophy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

His story is a little rushed but we get the idea that Tim’s not a jerk, just an idealist who can’t handle the tawdriness of the 21st century.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

On the other, "she had the restlessness of an idealist with a certain anger at the world as it was", Eve, now 67, told the BBC.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2025

I was always very much an idealist and was like, "Let's just try."

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2024

“If he was clever enough to send us over to Mandeville like two stooges, lie’s not that psycho. Even somebody like the idealist can play a joke on you.”

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

• dreamer
• optimist
• visionary