n. 1 the practice of forming or following after ideals, esp. unrealistically (cf. REALISM). 2 the representation of things in ideal or idealized form. 3 imaginative treatment. 4 Philos. 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 (cf. REALISM). idealist n. idealistic adj. idealistically adv.
[ F idéalisme or G Idealismus (as IDEAL) ]