idealism

noun

ide·​al·​ism ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌliz-əm How to pronounce idealism (audio)
ˈī-(ˌ)dē-
1
a
: the practice of forming ideals or living under their influence
b
: something that is idealized
2
a(1)
: a theory that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena
(2)
: a theory that the essential nature of reality lies in consciousness or reason
b(1)
: a theory that only the perceptible is real
(2)
: a theory that only mental states or entities are knowable
3
: literary or artistic theory or practice that affirms the preeminent value of imagination as compared with faithful copying of nature compare realism

Examples of idealism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Herbert’s novel is a great juicy slab of a book, a meticulously detailed and enjoyably engrossing fantasy about belief and doubt, survival and struggle, idealism and nihilism. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Films bask either in beauty or in crime, in blood, massacres, blissful idealism, the exoticization of the proletariat, Proust, Balzac, financial scandals, the patience of populations, the flourishing of hunger. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 This nine-part series, produced by GBH News and reported and hosted by Ian Coss, excavates the whole fascinating story, with an eye toward understanding current-day cynicism and idealism about infrastructure. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 But the issue of reconciling opposites relates to a final principle: soaring idealism and brutal realism can coexist. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Low-budget filmmaking is where the Oscars go in search of a lost idealism, rarely in the realm of art, more often in the realm of social virtue, or even just of something somewhat genteel. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Feb. 2024 Frum attributes to Wilson the dawn of idealism in American foreign policy, but that’s not quite right, either. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024 For some, though, lagom itself brings out a kind of idealism. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Feb. 2024 What is the trade-off between courage and safety; idealism and caution; hope for change and fear of it? Ben Rhodes, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'idealism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1743, in the meaning defined at sense 2a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of idealism was circa 1743

Dictionary Entries Near idealism

Cite this Entry

“Idealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idealism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

idealism

noun
ide·​al·​ism ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌliz-əm How to pronounce idealism (audio)
ˈī-(ˌ)dē-
: the practice of forming ideals or living under their influence
idealist
-(ə-)ləst
noun
idealistic
(ˌ)ī-ˌdē-(ə-)ˈlis-tik
ˌī-dē-
adjective
idealistically
-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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