ideation

noun

ide·​a·​tion ˌī-dē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce ideation (audio)
: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas
Local coaches and mentors guide student teams through the process of ideation, market research, and business plan development …Maryann Mills
… the new space offers a smorgasbord of work environments—cozy two-chair-and-a-screen setups for small Zoom gatherings, … and floor-to-ceiling whiteboards in some places for spontaneous ideationChase DiFeliciantonio
see also suicidal ideation

Examples of ideation in a Sentence

a product designer who went from ideation to creation quickly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lord has also seen a link between patients with CTE and homicidal ideation and impulsivity as well as other personality changes. Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 29 July 2025 Pan Peru trained Andean women in product design, product ideation, and entrepreneurship through workshops. Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 26 July 2025 In fact, Elysian started initial work on the concept in 2020, with research, ideation and calculations, ultimately coming up with its proof of concept. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 The ideation is not necessarily creative; an Omnes principle is to trust and support the intuition of each filmmaker. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ideation

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ideation was in 1805

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Cite this Entry

“Ideation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideation. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Medical Definition

ideation

noun
ide·​a·​tion ˌīd-ē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce ideation (audio)
: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas
The spectrum of paranoid ideation goes from mild distrust and suspiciousness to full-blown persecutory delusions.R. Bianchi and L. Janin, Occupational Medicine
The cognitive ability to generate many creative ideas, or creative ideation, is one facet of creativity.Tammy C. Pannells and Amy F. Claxton, Creativity Research Journal
see also suicidal ideation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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