notional
Existing in thought
Notional describes something that exists as an idea or concept rather than in reality.
A notional budget is preliminary or hypothetical.
A notional value represents what something would theoretically be worth.
In grammar, notional agreement follows meaning rather than strict syntax: The committee were divided treats a singular noun as plural because the members disagreed.
The word carries a slight suggestion that the thing described may be more theoretical than practical.
Based on conjecture
- conjecturalBased on incomplete evidence
- theoreticalBased on hypothesis, untested
- imaginaryExisting only in thought
- suppositionalBased on assumption
putative · assumed · presumed · unproven · untested · unverified · tentative · provisional
Of or relating to ideas
- theoreticalBased on hypothesis, untested
- hypotheticalAssumed but unproven
- ideationalRelating to forming concepts
- intangibleNot physically present
immaterial · nonphysical · philosophical · metaphysical · ethereal · nebulous · vague · indefinite
Playfully fanciful or erratic
- imaginaryExisting only in thought
- fanciedFelt drawn toward
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- idealisticPursuing unrealistic standards
romantic · quixotic · dreamy · fantastical · capricious · unrealistic · impractical · wishful
Of meaning in language
- functionalAble to operate correctly
- relationalConcerning connections between things
- categoricalUnconditional and explicit
- caseContainer or instance
grammatical · syntactic · linguistic · thematic · verbal · nominal · adverbial · prepositional
speculative
Based on conjecture
- conjecturalBased on incomplete evidence
- theoreticalBased on hypothesis, untested
- imaginaryExisting only in thought
suppositional · putative · assumed · presumed · unproven · untested · unverified · tentative · provisional · contingent
conceptual
Of or relating to ideas
- theoreticalBased on hypothesis, untested
- hypotheticalAssumed but unproven
- ideationalRelating to forming concepts
intangible · immaterial · nonphysical · philosophical · metaphysical · ethereal · nebulous · vague · indefinite · impalpable
whimsical
Playfully fanciful or erratic
idealistic · romantic · quixotic · dreamy · fantastical · capricious · unrealistic · impractical · wishful · chimerical
semantic
Of meaning in language
- functionalAble to operate correctly
- relationalConcerning connections between things
- categoricalUnconditional and explicit
case · grammatical · syntactic · linguistic · thematic · verbal · nominal · adverbial · prepositional · classificatory
- bondsbond, corporate bond, corporate bonds, government bond, municipal bond
- imaginary stylesimaginary, fantasy, fantastical, dreamlike, dreamy
- sewing notionsSmall crafting supplies
- false notionIncorrect belief or idea