Ideal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ī-ˈdē(-ə)l/ ide·al

Meaning & Definition of Ideal

Ideal (adjective)

  1. exactly right for a particular purpose, person, or situation
  2. of, relating to, or embodying an ideal
  3. conforming exactly to an ideal, law, or standard, perfect

Ideal (noun)

  1. a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence
  2. one regarded as exemplifying an ideal and often taken as a model for imitation
  3. an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, goal

Ideal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. dealing with or expressing a quality or idea

    "honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners"

    similar: abstract, conceptual, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical
    related: conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, cosmic, intellectual, mental, spiritual, ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial, impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal, utopian, visionary
    opposite: concrete, nonabstract
    near: material, physical, appreciable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible, defined, definite, distinct, actual, factual, real

  2. not real and existing only in the imagination

    "depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown"

    similar: chimerical, fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical, notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visionary
    related: fabled, legendary, romantic, abstract, hypothetical, theoretical, unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized, daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric, concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive, inexistent, nonexistent
    opposite: actual, existent, existing, real
    near: authentic, genuine, true, factual, verifiable, verified, believable, convincing, realistic, corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial, palpable, tangible

  3. being entirely without fault or flaw

    "for years she's been searching for a man who would make an ideal husband, and she's still looking"

    similar: absolute, faultless, flawless, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, letter-perfect, perfect, picture-book, picture-perfect, seamless, unblemished
    related: consummate, expert, masterly, classic, dandy, excellent, fabulous, fine, first-class, first-rate, grand, great, marvelous, prime, superb, superior, superlative, terrific, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, completed, finished, perfected, polished, complete, entire, intact, whole, mint, unbruised, undamaged, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unspoiled, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, special, airtight, bulletproof, accurate, correct, exact, precise, inerrant, infallible, unerring, unfailing
    opposite: amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable
    near: deficient, inadequate, incomplete, insufficient, wanting, unfinished, unpolished, fallible, blemished, blighted, broken, damaged, defaced, disfigured, impaired, injured, malformed, marred, misshapen, spoiled, vitiated, atrocious, execrable, wretched, imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, wrong

Ideal (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she's our ideal of the concerned, caring physician"

    similar: beau ideal, classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "the Taj Mahal in India is generally regarded as the ideal of Mogul architectural beauty"

    similar: acme, apotheosis, beau ideal, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, perfection, quintessence
    related: archetype, model, prototype, paradigm, standard, nonpareil, paragon, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification, height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith, benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

  3. something that one hopes or intends to accomplish

    "his ideal is to make enough money so that he can retire at 50"

    similar: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Related Entry: Beau ideal (noun)

Beau ideal is a different word from Ideal. The synonyms below are for beau ideal, not for ideal.

  1. someone of such unequaled perfection as to deserve imitation

    "she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional"

    similar: classic, eidolon, exemplar, idea, ideal, model, nonesuch, nonpareil, paragon, patron saint
    related: role model, embodiment, epitome, incarnation, manifestation, personification, phantom, pink, archetype, example, mirror, paradigm, pattern, guideline, principle, rule, gauge, standard, touchstone, essence, quintessence, acme, apex, apotheosis, culmination, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith

  2. the most perfect type or example

    "Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting"

    similar: acme, apotheosis, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, ideal, perfection, quintessence
    related: archetype, model, prototype, paradigm, standard, nonpareil, paragon, abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification, height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith, benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ideal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ideal:

abstract, conceptual, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical, chimerical, fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, unreal, visionary, absolute, faultless, flawless, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, letter-perfect, perfect, picture-book, picture-perfect, seamless, unblemished, beau ideal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ideal

Words with the opposite meaning of Ideal:

concrete, nonabstract, actual, existent, existing, real, amiss, bad, censurable, defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, reproachable

Related Words for Ideal

conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, cosmic, intellectual, mental, spiritual, ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial, impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, utopian, fabled, legendary, unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely, conceived

Near Antonyms of Ideal

material, physical, appreciable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible, defined, definite, distinct, factual, authentic, genuine, true, verifiable, verified, believable, convincing, realistic, corporeal, solid, deficient, inadequate, incomplete

Word Forms of Ideal

Derived words: idealless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Ideal

Middle English ydeall, from Late Latin idealis, from Latin idea

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Ideal

Words & Phrases Containing Ideal

ideal point, beau ideal, ego ideal, far from ideal

Frequently Asked Questions about Ideal

What does "Ideal" mean?

"Ideal" means exactly right for a particular purpose, person, or situation. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: exactly right for a particular purpose, person, or situation. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ideal"?

Other words for "Ideal" include abstract, conceptual, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical, chimerical and fabulous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ideal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ideal"?

There are 218 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ideal". Common alternatives include abstract, conceptual, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical, chimerical, fabulous, fanciful and fantasied.

What is the opposite of "Ideal"?

Antonyms of "Ideal" include concrete, nonabstract, actual, existent, existing, real, amiss and bad. Near antonyms include material, physical, appreciable and detectable.

How do you use "Ideal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ideal" in a sentence: "honesty is an ideal entity that has more admirers than practitioners"; "depicts an ideal society in which conflict and privation are unknown"; "for years she's been searching for a man who would make an ideal husband, and she's still looking".

Is "Ideal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ideal" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Ideal" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Ideal" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Ideal"?

"Ideal" is pronounced /ī-ˈdē(-ə)l/ and divided into syllables as ide·al.