Word
idealist
Phoneticside·al·ist, stress on the second syllable
US/aɪˈdiɫɪst/
UK/aɪdˈiəlɪst/
Definition
n. a person who believes that people and society should be perfect and fair. They often focus on what is right rather than what is practical.
n. a person who holds an idealized view of human nature and society, often prioritizing moral or social perfection over practical considerations.
Examples
“The young idealist wanted to change the world.”
“As a political idealist, she spent her career working on international peace treaties rather than local elections.”
“While the pragmatist focused on immediate economic gains, the idealist argued that long-term social justice was the only path to true national stability.”
Examples
simple
“The young idealist wanted to change the world.”
contextual
“As a political idealist, she spent her career working on international peace treaties rather than local elections.”
complex
“While the pragmatist focused on immediate economic gains, the idealist argued that long-term social justice was the only path to true national stability.”
Real-World Examples
“Whether it was the right choice to hire a flexible pragmatist to mend the work of stubborn idealists remains moot.” “A lot of eager young idealists were showing up who fit a certain mold.” Etymology
From French idéaliste, from Late Latin idealis (“ideal”), from Latin idea (“idea”), equivalent to ideal + -ist.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/idealist