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).
Derivatives:
idealist n. idealistic adj. idealistically adv.
Etymology: F id{eacute}alisme or G Idealismus (as IDEAL)