notion

noun

no·tion | \ ˈnō-shən

Definition of notion

1a(1) : an individual's conception or impression of something known, experienced, or imagined They had different notions of right and wrong.

(2) : an inclusive general concept arriving at the notion of law— Irving Babbitt

(3) : a theory or belief held by a person or group the notion of original sin

b : a personal inclination : whim He had a notion to try skydiving.

2 obsolete : mind, intellect

3 notions plural : small useful items : sundries found the thread she wanted among the shop's notions

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about notion

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Choose the Right Synonym for notion

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

Examples of notion in a Sentence

He has some pretty strange notions. She had a vague notion about what happened. The study disproves any notion that dolphins are not intelligent. She had a notion to try skydiving. a sewing shop that sells fabrics, books, tools, and notions

Recent Examples on the Web

In a few short years, the notion of Google Glass as a consumer product was all but dead. — Jay Greene, WSJ, "Microsoft’s Hype Strategy for HoloLens Is to Avoid It," 24 Feb. 2019 But the notion of identity as a means of really getting to trust, and attaching a trust to an individual, is key to economic growth. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Microsoft is more valuable than Apple again. Why?," 30 Nov. 2018 The notion that college admissions are based on some sort of meritocracy is, well, silly. — Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, "What you should know about race-based affirmative action and diversity in schools," 3 July 2018 In our real world, the notion that computers could create a lovely afterlife isn’t outside the bounds of speculation. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Westworld’s Virtual Afterlife Might Not Be Fiction," 27 June 2018 While maybe a tad hyperbolistic, the notion is not ridiculous. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "Chargers Are Ready to Claim Their Piece of the Los Angeles Sports Market," 20 June 2018 Among these is the notion that the world’s displaced are mainly in countries of the Global North. — Laignee Barron, Time, "A Record 68.5 Million People in the World Were Forcibly Displaced by the End of 2017, U.N. Says," 19 June 2018 The notion that this president has violated political and behavioral norms is almost universally acknowledged – gleefully and appreciatively by his supporters. — David Hawpe, The Courier-Journal, "Book review: There's more political warfare and polarization in Trump's future," 4 June 2018 Suddenly, my tidy notions of right and wrong were jumbled up, and my understanding of Jesus needed refining. — Cindy Mallette, Vox, "In a year of hyperpartisanship, I did the unthinkable — I changed my mind about politics.," 20 Dec. 2018

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