notional

no·tion·al

adjective \ˈnō-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\

Definition of NOTIONAL

1

: theoretical, speculative

2

: existing in the mind only : imaginary

3

: given to foolish or fanciful moods or ideas

4

a : of, relating to, or being a notion or idea : conceptual

b (1) : presenting an idea of a thing, action, or quality <has is notional in he has luck, relational in he has gone> (2) : of or representing what exists or occurs in the world of things as distinguished from syntactic categories

— no·tion·al·i·ty \ˌnō-shə-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun

— no·tion·al·ly \ˈnō-shnə-lē, -shə-n^əl-ē\ adverb

Examples of NOTIONAL

1. The notional earnings of the company were close to the actual ones.
2. <she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love>

First Known Use of NOTIONAL

1597

Related to NOTIONAL

Synonyms

conceptual, ideal, ideational, metaphysical, abstract, theoretical (also theoretic)

Antonyms

concrete, nonabstract

Related Words

conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; cosmic (also cosmical), intellectual, mental, spiritual; ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible; impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal, utopian, visionary

Near Antonyms

material, physical; appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible; defined, definite, distinct; actual, factual, real

Rhymes with NOTIONAL

motional