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Synonyms

notion

American  
[noh-shuhn] / ˈnoʊ ʃən /

noun

  1. a general understanding; vague or imperfect conception or idea of something.

    a notion of how something should be done.

  2. an opinion, view, or belief.

    That's his notion, not mine.

  3. conception or idea.

    his notion of democracy.

  4. a fanciful or foolish idea; whim.

    She had a notion to swim in the winter.

  5. an ingenious article, device, or contrivance; knickknack.

  6. notions, small articles, as buttons, thread, ribbon, and other personal items, especially such items displayed together for sale, as in a department store.

notion British  
/ ˈnəʊʃən /

noun

  1. a vague idea; impression

  2. an idea, concept, or opinion

  3. an inclination or whim

"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

Usage

What are other ways to say notion? A notion is a vague or imperfect idea or a general understanding of something. How is it different from thought, conception, and idea? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

  • notionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of notion

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin nōtiōn- (stem of nōtiō ) “examination, idea,” equivalent to (g)nōt(us), past participle of (g)nōscere “to come to know” + -iōn- suffix forming nouns; notify, -ion

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.