notional

[ noh-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or expressing a notion or idea.
2. of the nature of a notion or idea:

   a notional response to the question.

3. abstract, theoretical, or speculative, as reflective thought.
4. not real or actual; ideal or imaginary:

   to create a notional world for oneself.

5. given to or full of foolish or fanciful ideas or moods.
6. Grammar.
   1. relating to the meaning expressed by a linguistic form.
   2. having full lexical meaning, in contrast to relational.
7. Semantics. belonging to a class of words that express clear concepts rather than relations between concepts; presentive. Compare relational ( def 3 ), symbolic ( def 4 ).

notional

/ ˈnəʊʃənəl /

adjective

1. relating to, expressing, or consisting of notions or ideas
2. not evident in reality; hypothetical or imaginary

   a notional tax credit

3. characteristic of a notion or concept, esp in being speculative or imaginary; abstract
4. grammar
   1. (of a word) having lexical meaning
   2. another word for semantic

Derived Forms

• ˈnotionally, adverb

Other Words From

• notion·ali·ty noun
• notion·al·ly adverb
• non·notion·al adjective
• un·notion·al adjective
• un·notion·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of notional¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; notion + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The app also allows them to set a budget, and automatically calculates the amount of fractional shares they can afford through notional value trading.

From TechCrunch

Panetta was no fan of Blair, whom he called his “notional boss” inside the intelligence community.

From The Daily Beast

Once, in a moment of grace, I allowed myself to imagine a notional platform for such a party.

From The Daily Beast

Yet that open border is no less real for seeming so purely notional.

From The Daily Beast

The nation bleeds but we seem to have a president for whom emotion is notional.

From The Daily Beast

Illiquidity was not a problem when notional prices went up in the boom years.

From The Daily Beast

When the sense of God's authority over us is practical, and not notional only.

From Project Gutenberg

When he's sort of wild and notional by nature and traps set for him?

From Project Gutenberg

The cap'n was a first-rate seaman and died rich, but he was dreadful notional.

From Project Gutenberg

They wish to catch as many fish as they possibly can, while they are biting, for mackerel are very notional.

From Project Gutenberg

For it is slight compared to their notional assent, that which they think they believe concerning it.

From Project Gutenberg