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.

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notion British  

/ ˈnəʊʃən /

noun

1. a vague idea; impression

2. an idea, concept, or opinion

3. an inclination or whim

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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; see notify, -ion

Explanation

If you have a notion that you can swim across the ocean, you are probably wrong. A notion is an idea, often vague and sometimes fanciful. A notion is lighter than a theory and embraces a whimsy that a simple idea never could. You might have the notion that you can slow global warming by taking public transportation and reusing plastic bags. If you share a far-fetched idea with others, someone might respond with a "Where'd you get that notion?!" Notions can also refer to the buttons, thread, zippers, and pins necessary for sewing things. So if you have a notion to create your own Halloween costume, you better pick up some notions from the craft store.

Example Sentences

The reasons for John’s ferocious emotional repression are not fully explored, but they seem intrinsic to his grimly sustaining notion of island heritage.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

But a mixed bag of earnings this past week from Amazon.com, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Apple has reinforced the notion that XLK may be the way to go.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The closure "really did a lot of work to discredit the notion of a just transition", Gibbs believes.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Regardless of how stocks are categorized, the above table supports the notion that for long-term investors building up nest eggs, stocks have outperformed bonds by wide margins.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

The notion that the cascading events in France bore any relation to the American Revolution struck Adams as outright lunacy.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• approach
• assumption
• concept
• conception
• image
• impression
• knowledge
• opinion
• perception
• sentiment
• suggestion
• thought
• understanding
• view