idealism |īˈdē(ə)ˌlizəm|

noun

1 the practice of forming or pursuing ideals, esp. unrealistically : the idealism of youth.Compare with realism .

• (in art or literature) the representation of things in ideal or idealized form. Often contrasted with realism (sense 2).

2 Philosophy any of various systems of thought in which the objects of knowledge are held to be in some way dependent on the activity of mind. Often contrasted withrealism (sense 3).

DERIVATIVES

idealist noun

idealistic |īˌdē(ə)ˈlistik| adjective

idealistically |īˌdē(ə)ˈlistik(ə)lē| adverb

ORIGIN late 18th cent. (sense 2) : from French idéalisme or German Idealismus, from late Latin idealis (see ideal ).