concept

[ kon-sept ]

noun

1. a general notion or idea; conception.
2. an idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars; a construct.
3. a directly conceived or intuited object of thought.

adjective

1. functioning as a prototype or model of new product or innovation:

   a concept car,

   a concept phone.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to develop a concept of; conceive:

   He concepted and produced three films.

concept

/ ˈkɒnsɛpt /

noun

1. an idea, esp an abstract idea

   the concepts of biology

2. philosophy a general idea or notion that corresponds to some class of entities and that consists of the characteristic or essential features of the class
3. philosophy
   1. the conjunction of all the characteristic features of something
   2. a theoretical construct within some theory
   3. a directly intuited object of thought
   4. the meaning of a predicate
4. modifier (of a product, esp a car) created as an exercise to demonstrate the technical skills and imagination of the designers, and not intended for mass production or sale

Word History and Origins

Origin of concept¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin conceptum “something conceived,” originally neuter of conceptus “conceived,” past participle of concipere “to conceive,” equivalent to con- con- ( def ) + -cipere, combining form of capere “to seize”

Word History and Origins

Origin of concept¹

C16: from Latin conceptum something received or conceived, from concipere to take in, conceive

Example Sentences

The EV federal credit system is simple in concept: Sell too many gasoline-powered cars, you accumulate deficits.

From Los Angeles Times

Montreal previously considered the Rays’ concept of splitting the season between Florida and Canada.

From Los Angeles Times

Professional boxing is where the concept of the great white hope — and the Black villain — gained traction.

From Salon

Forty-four years after first considering the concept, “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints” makes its debut Sunday on Fox Nation, the streamer owned and operated by Fox News Media, the conservative-leaning Fox News Channel’s parent organization.

From Los Angeles Times

We don’t yet have a new concept to replace this one, though.

From Salon

Related Words

• approach
• conception
• image
• notion
• perception
• theory
• thought
• view