beau ideal

noun

beau ide·​al ˌbō-ī-ˈdē(-ə)l  ˌbō-ˌē-dā-ˈäl 

plural beau ideals

: the perfect type or model

Synonyms

• classic
• eidolon
• exemplar
• idea
• ideal
• model
• nonesuch
• nonpareil
• paragon
• patron saint

Examples of beau ideal in a Sentence

she is the beau ideal of the dedicated medical professional

Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous architectural creation, Falling Water, is widely regarded as the beau ideal of a building in harmony with its setting.

Recent Examples on the Web

The beau ideal of illiberal democracy is, of course, Viktor Orbán of Hungary, who outlined the term in a 2014 speech. —Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 31 Jan. 2024

Fieg is its beau ideal. —Kareem Rashed, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2022

At Délice & Sarrasin, a charming French bistro in the West Village, vegans can bide their time in style, enticing new recruits with the beau ideal of meatless haute cuisine. —David Kortava, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2021

If Teddy Roosevelt was the Harvard beau ideal at the turn of the last century, Mark Zuckerberg is the Harvard man to be in the new millennium. —William Stadiem, Town & Country, 2 Aug. 2016

If Hicks is the beau ideal in today’s MLB, then Miles Mikolas is a throwback to the Roosevelt administration. —Michael Beller, SI.com, 23 May 2018

There was a time when the beau ideal was to drive your sports car to the track, paint numbers on it, go racing and then drive home. —Dan Neil, WSJ, 6 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

French beau idéal ideal beauty

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beau ideal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• foveal

Kids Definition

beau ideal

noun

beau ide·​al ˌbō-ī-ˈdē(-ə)l 

plural beau ideals

: a perfect model

the beau ideal of a basketball player