ideation

American  

[ahy-dee-ey-shuhn] / ˌaɪ diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process of forming ideas or images.

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Usage

What does ideation mean? Ideation is the act or process of forming ideas or images in one’s mind. Warning: This article involves discussion of the sensitive topic of suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, call the toll-free, 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text HOME to 741741 for free to get 24/7 support from the Crisis Text Line. The term ideation is especially used in the context of psychology to refer to thought processes focusing on a particular action, as in phrases like suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts) and violent ideation (thoughts about committing violence). Sometimes, ideation is used to refer to the kind of brainstorming done in a business setting to generate new ideas. Ideation is the noun form of the verb ideate, meaning to form ideas or to think. Example: During meditation, you are encouraged to refrain from ideation of any kind—clear your mind of all thoughts.

Etymology

Origin of ideation

First recorded in 1820–30; ideate + -ion

Explanation

Ideation is the act of coming up with an idea, like when a cartoon light bulb appears above someone’s head. If you imagine a flying car and think of how to make it, that's ideation. It's a creative process. Ideation might sound new, but the word has been around since the 1800's. It looks like a blend of idea and creation, and it is — a brainstorming session is a type of ideation. In medical speak, ideation is "the forming of mental images." In this sense the word is often paired with suicidal — suicidal ideation refers to someone thinking about killing herself. Sadly, that’s the most common use of ideation.

Example Sentences

Black women have also historically reported suicidal ideation during the postpartum period at a rate roughly double that of white women.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

A 2009 study in the American Journal of Public Health found that among immigrants who came from Mexico to the U.S. as teenagers, just 2.3% reported suicidal ideation, compared with 8.9% of their American-born peers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

“This is a miraculous thing,” said retired MMA fighter Tait Fletcher, who credits the treatment with freeing him from suicidal ideation.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente talked to some of them and they “were either not experiencing suicidal ideation at the time of screening or feared the outcome of disclosure, including stigma, overreaction, and loss of autonomy.”

From Slate • May 20, 2024

The simplest and truest definition of reason is, I take it, the intelligent correlation of ideation and action for definite purposes not instinctive.

From The Dawn of Reason or, Mental Traits in the Lower Animals by Weir, James

Related Words

• attention
• hope
• logic
• reflection
• speculation
• thinking
• understanding