conceptual

American  

[kuhn-sep-choo-uhl] / kənˈsɛp tʃu əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to concepts or to the forming of concepts.

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conceptual British  

/ kənˈsɛptjʊəl /

adjective

1. relating to or concerned with concepts; abstract

2. concerned with the definitions or relations of the concepts of some field of enquiry rather than with the facts

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Other Word Forms

• conceptuality noun
• conceptually adverb
• nonconceptual adjective
• postconceptual adjective
• unconceptual adjective

Etymology

Origin of conceptual

First recorded in 1655–65; Medieval Latin conceptuālis; conceptus, -al ¹

Example Sentences

They point to both methodological and conceptual weaknesses in the study design and say the discrepancy can be explained by a well-known cognitive bias called the subadditivity effect.

From Science Daily

As Mr. Thaler reports, “despite the empirical robustness and conceptual importance of these findings, insights from behavioral economics remain largely absent from mainstream economics textbooks.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“They see cyber as another means…to achieve the same conceptual goal.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A Jewish museum could offer far more insight, including into Hanukkah’s origins, which may be relevant to the museum’s own meandering conceptual history, with its tensions between cultural assimilation and religious identity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The twin is a conceptual idea, Fishler says, whereas the painting is the real deal — something on canvas and in a frame.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• theoretical
• visionary