Idealism
aɪˈdɪəlɪzəm
Definitions
2 meaningsThe philosophical theory that emphasizes the importance of ideals, values, and spiritual realities over material ones.
aɪˈdɪəlɪzəm
The practice of forming or pursuing ideals, especially unrealistically.
Her idealism about changing the world inspired many people.
💡 Simply: Idealism is like believing in a perfect world where everyone is kind and things always work out, even if it seems a little unrealistic sometimes. Like hoping everyone will always recycle to help the planet!
👶 For kids: Thinking about the best way things could be, like everyone being nice to each other.
More Examples
The artist's paintings were a reflection of her idealism and her belief in beauty.
His idealism, while admirable, sometimes made him naive to the practical difficulties.
How It's Used
"The philosophy of idealism posits that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual."
"His political idealism led him to believe in the possibility of a utopian society."
"The romantic idealism of the characters often contrasted with the harsh realities of their world."
The representation of things in a perfect or ideal form, rather than a realistic one.
aɪˈdɪəlɪzəm
The practice of representing things in an ideal form.
The artist's paintings showed an idealistic view of nature.
💡 Simply: Idealism is like making art of someone or something look even better than it is in real life, like making a portrait super beautiful.
👶 For kids: Making things look perfect in art or stories.
More Examples
The movie portrayed the protagonist with a touch of idealism, making him appear nobler than in the book.
The use of idealism in sculpture was common in the Renaissance era.
How It's Used
"Classical sculptures often represent the human form with a sense of idealism, emphasizing beauty and perfection."
"The author employed idealism in his descriptions, highlighting the noble qualities of the hero."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
starry-eyed idealism
Naive or unrealistic idealism; a belief in something good or perfect that's not based on real-world considerations.
"Her youthful idealism made her believe she could change the world overnight."
a touch of idealism
A small amount of idealism. Suggests a person or idea that has some idealistic aspects, perhaps with the implication that it could be a good thing.
"His leadership style had a touch of idealism."
From French *idéalisme*, from *idéal* (ideal) + *-isme* (-ism). The concept developed primarily in philosophy, starting with Plato, and later evolved in different schools of thought.
The term gained prominence in philosophical discourse from the late 18th century onwards, particularly through the works of Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
Memory tip
Think of IDEAL worlds instead of real ones.
Word Origin
"Ideals, -ism (doctrine)"