Definition of notionnext
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as in novelties
notions plural small useful items the fabric store had a wide variety of thread, pins, buttons, and other notions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in concept
an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation the popular notion that college athletes are airheads

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun notion contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of notion are conception, concept, idea, impression, and thought. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

When is concept a more appropriate choice than notion?

The words concept and notion can be used in similar contexts, but 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

How do conception and concept relate to one another, in the sense of notion?

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

When might idea be a better fit than notion?

While in some cases nearly identical to notion, 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

Where would impression be a reasonable alternative to notion?

The words impression and notion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

When can thought be used instead of notion?

In some situations, the words thought and notion are roughly equivalent. However, thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of notion Historians and advocates of the separation of church and state reject the notion that the country was founded as, and intended to be, a Christian nation. Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 Starting with hundreds of possible options, the team narrows its list down to a few optimal bottles, which are then blind-tasted to eliminate any preconceived notions about the brand, winemaker, or even label design. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026 But the numbers may spell trouble for the Republican Party in the midterms this year, and even in the long term, perhaps dispelling the notion that a greater cultural shift had taken place in 2024. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 17 Feb. 2026 And although wolves do naturally prey on wild deer and elk, support for the notion that the predators are cratering wild game populations is mixed at best, several experts told me. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for notion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notion
Noun
  • Partnering with denim heads, particularly ones with an online following, has become an authentic and transparent way for these companies to communicate their new novelties and innovations to the end consumer.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The latest Coco Crush novelties feature the supple necklace and choker along with Signatures creations with the Ruban and Comète collections.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Court ruled that Trump could no longer use a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEPPA) to impose sweeping tariffs as his personal whim.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Of course, a lot of what hits and what misses is luck, studio politics, the whims of the audience.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • According to reporting by The New York Times, births in 1966 fell sharply amid a belief that girls born in a Fire Horse year would bring misfortune to their future husbands.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Shaped by biblical ethics, nonviolence, and the belief that justice is indivisible, his framework refused the logic of zero-sum morality.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • To turn this idea into something practical, the team first grew a large, uniform sheet of monolayer MoS₂ on a 4-inch wafer.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Listed with Chad Carroll and Michelle Suegart of The Chad Carroll Group, Villa De Casuarina captures the kind of Miami luxury that isn’t trying too hard—expansive, private, and built around the simple idea that the best amenity might still be stepping from your backyard onto a boat.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Eco effort Cascada's entire concept is built around sustainability.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Surrounded by managers and coaches, the band reviewed staging concepts for the performance at Seoul’s Olympic Hall, and repeatedly ran through the steps to the 20-song setlist.
    Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Poll position The SEC has a higher opinion of itself than voters in the Associated Press top 25 poll.
    Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Better than last year, in my opinion.
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • To many, this is a sad, depressing thought.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Las Culturistas cohost Bowen Yang, who recently departed SNL and has a thriving career in movies and TV, grows reflective at the thought of the traditional late-night format vanishing altogether—and with it the power to speak to a wide range of Americans all at once.
    Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • His passion for cinema is driven by a need to center the Hawaiian perspective, reclaiming narratives and dismantling long-standing stereotypes.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The shows — which contend with stereotypes aimed at Black communities, racial injustice, and resilience and hope in the face of violence — all center on community engagement.
    Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notion. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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