notional

[ noh-shuh-nl ]

/ ˈnoʊ ʃə nl /

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See synonyms for notional on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to or expressing a notion or idea.

of the nature of a notion or idea: a notional response to the question.

abstract, theoretical, or speculative, as reflective thought.

not real or actual; ideal or imaginary: to create a notional world for oneself.

given to or full of foolish or fanciful ideas or moods.

Grammar.

relating to the meaning expressed by a linguistic form.
having full lexical meaning, in contrast to relational.

Semantics. belonging to a class of words that express clear concepts rather than relations between concepts; presentive.Compare relational (def. 3), symbolic (def. 4).

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of notional

First recorded in 1590–1600; notion + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM notional

no·tion·al·i·ty, nounno·tion·al·ly, adverbnon·no·tion·al, adjectiveun·no·tion·al, adjective

un·no·tion·al·ly, adverb

Words nearby notional

no time at all, no time for, have, no time like the present, there's, not in the least, notion, notional, notionate, notions, notitia, not know beans, not know enough to come in out of the rain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use notional in a sentence

The app also allows them to set a budget, and automatically calculates the amount of fractional shares they can afford through notional value trading.
Gotrade gets $7M led by LocalGlobe to let investors around the world buy fractional shares of U.S. stocks|Catherine Shu|June 25, 2021|TechCrunch
Panetta was no fan of Blair, whom he called his “notional boss” inside the intelligence community.
Obama’s Ex-CIA Chief Slams White House for ‘Hesitation and Half Steps’|Josh Rogin|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once, in a moment of grace, I allowed myself to imagine a notional platform for such a party.
Yair Lapid's Historic Opportunity|Bernard Avishai|January 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yet that open border is no less real for seeming so purely notional.
Richard Ford’s “Canada” Is His Best Novel In Years|Michael Gorra|May 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The nation bleeds but we seem to have a president for whom emotion is notional.
The Tiger Binge|Tina Brown|December 16, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Illiquidity was not a problem when notional prices went up in the boom years.
The Man Who Gutted the Ivy League|Edward Jay Epstein|March 28, 2009|DAILY BEAST
When the sense of God's authority over us is practical, and not notional only.
A Christian Directory (Volume 1 of 4)|Richard Baxter
When he's sort of wild and notional by nature and traps set for him?
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock
The cap'n was a first-rate seaman and died rich, but he was dreadful notional.
Deephaven and Selected Stories & Sketches|Sarah Orne Jewett
They wish to catch as many fish as they possibly can, while they are biting, for mackerel are very notional.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, September 1878, No. 11|Various
For it is slight compared to their notional assent, that which they think they believe concerning it.
The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, October 1879|Various

British Dictionary definitions for notional

notional

/ (ˈnəʊʃənəl) /

adjective

relating to, expressing, or consisting of notions or ideas

not evident in reality; hypothetical or imaginarya notional tax credit

characteristic of a notion or concept, esp in being speculative or imaginary; abstract

grammar

(of a word) having lexical meaning
another word for semantic

Derived forms of notional

notionally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

notional

Origin of notional

OTHER WORDS FROM notional

Words nearby notional

Words related to notional

How to use notional in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for notional

Derived forms of notional