What does idealiser mean?
An idealiser is a person who represents people, places, ideas, or situations in an idealized form, often making them seem more perfect, attractive, or morally admirable than they really are. The word can describe an artist or writer who creates an idealized portrait, but it is also commonly used critically of someone who overlooks inconvenient details or practical difficulties. In everyday discussion, an idealiser may be portrayed as romantic and idealistic, though the term often carries a note of impatience or disapproval. It is especially associated with someone who idealises the past, childhood, nature, or domestic life. The related adjective “idealistic” describes the outlook or attitude itself, while “idealisation” names the act or process of presenting something in ideal terms. The British spelling is “idealiser”; the equivalent North American spelling is “idealizer.”
nounAn idealiser is someone who represents something in an ideal or idealized form, often presenting it as better or more perfect than it is. The term can also refer to someone who tends to view things in an idealized way.
- Someone who idealizes, portrays, or thinks about something in an idealized or perfected form.
"The novel's idealiser makes the town seem perfect, leaving out the difficulties of daily life."
"Her memoir presents her grandmother as an idealiser of family life, rather than as the complicated person she was."
"Critics described the politician as an idealiser who ignored the practical consequences of his proposals."
The standard plural in British English; North American English usually uses “idealizers” and “idealizer”.
"The novel's idealisers cannot accept that the past was imperfect."
An idealiser does not merely have high standards; they turn a vision of perfection into a way of seeing the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does idealiser come from?
The word comes from “idealise” or “idealize,” formed from “ideal” with the suffix “-ise” or “-ize.” “Ideal” entered English in the 17th century from the French “idéal,” ultimately from the Latin “idealis,” meaning “relating to an idea or pattern.” The agent noun “idealiser” developed from the verb meaning to represent something in idealized terms, and became especially common in the 19th century in discussions of literature, politics, and social life.
Related word forms
How idealiser is actually used
Usually mildly critical or descriptive, especially when the person being described overlooks flaws and practical realities. The spelling “idealiser” is standard in British English; North American English generally uses “idealizer.”
Easily confused with idealiser
“Idealiser” is the usual British spelling, while “idealizer” is the usual North American spelling of the same noun.