concept

noun con·cept \ ˈkän-ˌsept \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

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Examples: concept in a Sentence

Definition of concept

1 : something conceived in the mind : thought, notion

2 : an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances

the basic concepts of psychology

the concept of gravity

See concept defined for English-language learners

See concept defined for kids

Examples of concept in a Sentence

She is familiar with basic concepts of psychology.
a concept borrowed from computer programming

Recent Examples of concept from the Web

News Feed is the concept of viral distribution, incarnate.

— adam fisher, WIRED, "Sex, Beer, and Coding: Inside Facebook’s Wild Early Days," 10 July 2018
In the first few years following its launch in 2008, Groupon was one of the darlings of the startup world after introducing the concept of daily deals to online consumers, igniting a frenzy among deal seekers and local businesses alike.

— jason del rey, Recode, "Groupon is looking for a buyer," 7 July 2018
That new concept, called Ocean 44, is currently being readied for a November opening in Scottsdale, Ariz., where Steak 44 was birthed. (Steak 44 got its name from being on 44th Street in Phoenix.

— greg morago, Houston Chronicle, "Steak 48 owners plan Houston seafood restaurant," 6 July 2018
But other local officials support the concept of capping property tax revenues.

— gordon dickson and nicholas sakelaris, star-telegram, "Priced out of their home? North Texans see tax bill rise $1,200 in five years," 6 July 2018
For example, the somewhat heavy concept of connecting to the dead was replaced with the more lighthearted idea of telling the future.

— marissa gold, Country Living, "Everything You Need to Know About the History of Halloween and Why We Celebrate It," 6 July 2018
Black teen stories being everyone's stories isn't a new concept for this generation.

— refinery29.com, "What Happened To All Of The Black Teen Shows?," 3 July 2018
Unger is also developing a new restaurant concept to open later this year.

— grace palmieri, azcentral, "16 Arizona distillers, brewers, bartenders and others helping us drink smarter," 3 July 2018
After all, there are so many one-shoulder dresses at Zara and H&M right now that a dress with two shoulders is starting to feel like a crazy new concept.

— lindsay peoples, The Cut, "It’s Summer. Wear Something Unapologetically Bright.," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concept.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of concept

Latin conceptum, neuter of conceptus, past participle of concipere to conceive — more at conceive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1556

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

concept Synonyms

Synonyms

abstraction, cogitation, conception, idea, image, impression, intellection, mind's eye, notion, picture, thought;

Near Antonyms

actuality, fact, reality;

preconception, prejudice, prepossession;

delusion, hallucination, illusion, phantasm (also fantasm);

caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim;

cognition, observation, perception, reflection;

assumption, belief, conclusion, conviction;

conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, supposition, surmise, theory;

brainchild, brainstorm, brain wave, inspiration;

Synonym Discussion of concept

idea, concept, conception, thought, notion, impression mean what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan). idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

- innovative ideas
- my idea of paradise

concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

- a society with no concept of private property

conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

- our changing conception of what constitutes art

thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

- commit your thoughts to paper

notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

- you have the oddest notions

impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

- the first impression is of soaring height

concept

adjective

Definition of concept

1 : organized around a main idea or theme

a concept album

2 : created to illustrate a concept

a concept car

See concept defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of concept from the Web

Concept art showed a mystical, face-having tree looming over a parking lot full of ordinary looking sedans.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Everything You Need to Know About Disney and Pixar’s Dazzling New Slate," 14 July 2017
Concept art showed a mystical, face-having tree looming over a parking lot full of ordinary looking sedans.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Everything You Need to Know About Disney and Pixar’s Dazzling New Slate," 14 July 2017
Concept cars are built to introduce bold ideas, practical and otherwise.

— the washington post, The Denver Post, "Your car wants to say hello. And that’s only the start.," 10 Jan. 2017

Origin and Etymology of concept

see ¹concept

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1896

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

CONCEPT Defined for English Language Learners

concept

noun

Definition of concept for English Language Learners

: an idea of what something is or how it works

concept

adjective

Definition of concept for English Language Learners

: organized around a main idea or theme
: created to show an idea

CONCEPT Defined for Kids

concept

noun con·cept \ ˈkän-ˌsept \

Definition of concept for Students

: something thought of : a general idea

concepts of science

Medical Dictionary

concept

noun con·cept \ ˈkän-ˌsept \

medical Definition of concept

1 : something conceived in the mind

2 : an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances

Learn More about concept

See words that rhyme with concept Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for concept Spanish Central: Translation of concept Nglish: Translation of concept for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of concept for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about concept

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concept

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concept

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concept

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concept

Definition of concept for English Language Learners

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concept

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