1. (a.) Existing in idea or thought; conceptual; intellectual; mental; as, ideal knowledge.

2. (a.) Reaching an imaginary standard of excellence; fit for a model; faultless; as, ideal beauty.

3. (a.) Existing in fancy or imagination only; visionary; unreal.

4. (a.) Teaching the doctrine of idealism; as, the ideal theory or philosophy.

5. (a.) Imaginary.

6. (n.) A mental conception regarded as a standard of perfection; a model of excellence, beauty, etc.

Arcadian Edenic Geistesgeschichte Hegelian idea Kantian idea Platonic form Platonic idea Utopian absolute abstract academic acme ambition apotheosis apprehension archetypal archetype archetypical armchair aspiration assumption autism autistic thinking basis beau ideal belief best type beyond all praise brainstorm calling caprice cause celestial chaste chimerical classic classical complete complex idea conceit concept conception conceptual conclusion conjectural conjecture consideration consummate conviction criterion cynosure defectless dereism dereistic thinking dream dreamery ego ideal epitome estimation eternal object eternal universal example excellent exemplar exemplary fancied fanciful fancy fantasy faultless feeling fictitious flawless flight of fancy formal cause goal good example ground guess guiding light guiding star heavenly hero high goal highest category history of ideas hypothesis hypothetic hypothetical idealism idealistic ideality idealization idealized ideals ideate ideational ideatum idee-force ideological idyllic illusory image imaginary imaginative exercise imagined immaculate impeccable impractical impracticality impression inclination indefectible indefective infallible innate idea inspiration intellection intention irreproachable jewel judgment just right lodestar mainspring man of men masterpiece masterwork matter millennial mirror model moot morals motive mythic mythical nonesuch nonpareil noosphere notion notional noumenon opinion paradigm paradigmatic paradisal paragon pattern pattern of perfection peerless percept perception perfect persuasion phoenix play of fancy postulatory precedential presumption principle principles prototypal prototype pure quintessence quintessential quixotism quixotry reaching high reaction reason reflection regulative first principle representative romance romantic romanticism sake score sentiment shining example simple idea sinless source speculation speculative spotless spring stainless standard standards subsistent form supposition supreme surmise suspicion taintless the Absolute the Absolute Idea the Self-determined the realized ideal theoretical theory thought transcendent transcendent idea transcendent nonempirical concept transcendent universal transcendental typical ulterior motive unadulterated unblemished uncontaminated unfaultable universal universal concept universal essence unmixed unpracticalness unreal unrealism unreality unspotted untainted upward looking utopian utopianism vagary very very model view visionariness visionary vocation whim whimsy wish fulfillment wish-fulfillment fantasy wishful thinking