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 concept they were offering was not without merit.”

From Los Angeles Times

The goal here seems to be finding people who are uniquely unfit for these jobs, both to rile up liberals and to flush out any Republicans with remaining loyalties to the concept of responsible governance.

From Salon

Well, we had to figure out how to get somebody to pay for it, so we did a 90 second proof of concept.

From BBC

It really helps illustrate the abstract concept of songwriting.

From BBC

The concept is overall already dated.

From Slate

Related Words

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