1. A portrayal of something as ideal
   "the idealization of rural life was very misleading"
   - idealisation [Brit], glorification 
2. (psychiatry) a defence mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad
   - idealisation [Brit] 
3. Something that exists only as an idea
   - idealisation [Brit]

Derived forms: idealizations

See also: idealize

Type of: admiration, appreciation, defence [Brit, Cdn], defence mechanism [Brit, Cdn], defence reaction [Brit, Cdn], defense [US], defense mechanism [US], defense reaction [US], idea, thought

Encyclopedia: Idealization

• long-shanked
• long-snouted
• long-spurred
• long-spurred violet
• long-stalked
• long-staple
• long-staple cotton
• long-sufferance
• long-suffering
• long-tailed porcupine
• long-tailed weasel
• long-term
• long-term memory
• long-wearing
• long-winded
• long-windedly
• long-windedness
• long-wooled
• longan
• longanberry
• longanimity
• longanimous
• longar palm
• longbeard
• longboat