ideal

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 ~ (for sth) perfect; most suitable: This beach is ideal for children. * She's the ideal candidate for the job. * The trip to Paris will be an ideal opportunity to practise my French. * It was not the ideal solution to the problem. 2 [onlybeforenoun] existing only in your imagination or as an idea; not likely to be real: the search for ideal love * In an ideal world there would be no poverty and disease. ideally adverb: She's ideally suited for this job. * Ideally, I'd like to live in New York, but that's not possible. noun 1 [C] an idea or standard that seems perfect, and worth trying to achieve or obtain: political ideals * She found it hard to live up to his high ideals. 2 [C,usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a person or thing that you think is perfect: It's my ideal of what a family home should be.