ideal
[ahy-dee-uhl, ahy-deel]
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of ideal
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym 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. 2018
Examples from the Web for ideals
Contemporary Examples
A soldier in the service of ideals and aspirations that formed his core.
Could he have won the White House in 1992, and if he had, would he have lived up to his ideals?
In an effort to cope with the implications of this question, Americans have subtly but sweepingly shifted their ideals.
Their main loyalty is to the values and ideals of our nation.
President Obama told Ukrainians “neither the United States nor Europe are perfect in adherence to our ideals.”
Historical Examples
There is no short cut to the making of these ideals into glad realities.
Americans, of all people, should never be surprised by the power of our ideals.
Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our Nation.
Was it possible that such a woman had no understanding of ideals of honour in love?
City of Endless NightMilo Hastings
Until she knew of that world and its ideals, how could I expect her to understand my motives?
City of Endless NightMilo Hastings
ideal
- 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
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- 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
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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 ideals
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.
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ideal
n.
"perfect person or thing," 1796, in a translation of Kant, from ideal (adj.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ideal
(ī-dē′əl, ī-dēl′)- A conception of something in its absolute perfection.
- One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.