notion

noun

no·​tion ˈnō-shən How to pronounce notion (audio)
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 lawIrving 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
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 our commodified, risk-averse world, the notion of the culinary beacon in the middle of nowhere is all but a romantic myth. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 The notion the shooting was foreseeable was among the prosecution’s main arguments. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 On Wednesday, before the House vote, Beijing condemned the push by U.S. lawmakers and rejected the notion that TikTok was a danger to the United States. Annie Karni, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Parham thinks that kids, and especially kids who are not white, would benefit from learning about the crossroads of the Mediterranean back before modern notions of racial hierarchy existed. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Related Articles Zaidi disputed the notion that the saga will harm the organization’s reputation with players. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 At its core, my unease comes from the inescapable notion that the internet has imposed its vertiginous scale on some of the most personal elements of my life. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024 Callaway and his Bardstown team aim to shed preconceived notions of what a distillery is and could be, in favor of a more personal touch — this intersection of originality, education and clarity. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 The video does everything to reinforce the notion that Buffett lived and loved every moment to the fullest in his 76 years on earth. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'notion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin notion-, notio, from noscere

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(2)

Time Traveler
The first known use of notion was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near notion

Cite this Entry

“Notion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notion. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

notion

noun
no·​tion ˈnō-shən How to pronounce notion (audio)
1
a
: idea sense 2, conception
have a notion of a poem's meaning
b
: a belief held : opinion
c
: a sudden wish or desire : whim
just had a notion to go home
2
plural : small useful articles (as pins, needles, or thread)

More from Merriam-Webster on notion

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