highminded

Highminded is an adjective describing someone who is guided by lofty or noble aims and moral principles. A highminded person is thought to act from ideals such as justice, benevolence, or intellectual integrity, rather than from narrow self-interest. The term can carry a positive connotation, praising sincerity and principled behavior, but it can also imply impracticality or detachment from real-world concerns when ideals are pursued without regard to consequences.

Etymology and usage: The compound appears in English as high-minded or, less commonly, highminded, deriving from high + minded; it has been used since the early modern period. In contemporary usage, it is largely neutral but often shaded by context: it may commend ethical seriousness or, in a critical sense, suggest aloofness or ineffectiveness.

In discourse, highminded describes individuals, movements, or policies that stress moral aims or intellectual ideals. It is frequently applied to reformers, philosophers, or political rhetoric that foreground virtue over expediency. A highminded stance on civil liberties or anti-corruption reform is typical usage, emphasizing aspirational values rather than pragmatic calculations.

Related terms include noble-minded, idealistic, lofty, and principled; antonyms include small-minded, petty, pragmatic, and cynical. The term remains value-laden and its tone depends on context, serving to praise virtue or to criticize detachment from practical considerations.