notion

noun no·tion \ ˈnō-shən \

Definition of notion

1 a (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

See notion defined for English-language learners

See notion defined for kids

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 of notion from the Web

In Toronto, the notion that everyone should be accepted and respected, regardless of their nationality or background, is something that’s practised on a daily basis.

— krista stevens, Longreads, "On Syrian Doctors and Borders: America’s Loss is Canada’s Gain," 29 Aug. 2017
If one of those things is the notion that women should be equal, then hold out for a person who shares that sentiment.

— jennifer wright, Harper's BAZAAR, "Please Marry a Man Who Understands Feminism," 23 Aug. 2017
Now, Forever21 is taking this notion a step further with their first-ever size-inclusive denim line.

— alyssa hardy, Teen Vogue, "Forever 21 Launches Plus-Size Denim Line 12x12," 21 Aug. 2017
Global Corporatists & Bankers - Exploitation of populations, unfettered by national protections and notions of personal morality and piety.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "This Is Pure, Unadulterated American Crazy," 11 Aug. 2017
The countless wrongheaded, derogatory notions and reductive portrayals of blackness continue to be perpetuated by the media.

— nicole blades, Good Housekeeping, "My Son Is Mixed, But in This Country He Needs to See Himself As Black and Proud," 3 Aug. 2017
Baker allows Trump to repeat his notion that the country has the highest taxes in the world.

— The Hive, "How Trump’s Embarrassing Wall Street Journal Interview Got Leaked," 2 Aug. 2017
The U.K. government is keen for talks to move on to trade, but back home the notion of paying the EU is politically toxic, possibly even more so now that Prime Minister Theresa May lost her parliamentary majority in June’s election.

— helene fouquet, Bloomberg.com, "France Says ‘We Want Our Money Back’ as Brexit Talks Crawl On," 20 July 2017
But the notion of black supremacy was at odds with mainstream Islam, and after Muhammad’s death in 1975, his son W.D. Mohammed broke with the Nation and its new torchbearer, Louis Farrakhan.

— abigail hauslohner, Washington Post, "In Mississippi, aging Muslim community worries about its future," 19 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of notion

Latin notion-, notio, from noscere

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First Known Use: 1531

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notion Synonyms

Synonyms

etceteras, novelties, odds and ends, sundries

Related Words

baubles, bric-a-brac, gewgaws (also geegaws), knickknacks (also nicknacks), trinkets; gadgets, gimmicks, jiggers; hodgepodge, miscellany, variety

Near Antonyms

fact, truth

Synonym Discussion of 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

NOTION Defined for Kids

notion

noun no·tion \ ˈnō-shən \

Definition of notion for Students

1 :idea 2

I haven't the faintest notion what to do.

2 :whim

We had a sudden notion to go swimming.

3 notions plural :small useful articles (as buttons, needles, and thread)

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