beau ideal

noun

, plural beaus ideal, beaux ideal beau ideals

1. a conception of perfect beauty.
2. a model of excellence.

beau idéal

/ bo ideal /

noun

1. perfect beauty or excellence

Word History and Origins

Origin of beau ideal¹

First recorded in 1795–1805, beau ideal is from French beau idéal literally, “ideal beauty.” See beau, ideal

Word History and Origins

Origin of beau ideal¹

literally: ideal beauty

Example Sentences

But that just made Summer more enticing, an unobtainable Beau Ideal.

From The Daily Beast

The landlady came; a fit spirit to rule over such a domain—the beau-ideal of tidiness and good humour.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing too much; nothing lacking—just the beau-ideal of a bachelor's parlor.

From Project Gutenberg

He was well qualified for a hero of romance, or a woman's beau-ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

This prince of the seventeenth century was the beau-ideal decadent that many modern novelists have delighted to depict.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed to me the beau ideal of a country gentleman: nothing less than this, and something more.

From Project Gutenberg