notion

N1O1T1I1O1N1
UK/ˈnəʊʃən/US/ˈnoʊʃən/

noun

Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.

“Yankee notions”

Similar
impressionfeelingbeliefopinionwhimwhimsywhimsey
OriginLatin nōtiō →
CommonScrabble 6
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounnotion (plural notions)

plural notions

  1. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.

    1705-1715, George Cheyne, The Philosophical Principles of Religion Natural and Revealed there are few that agree in their Notions about them:.

    3 more examples

    What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the notion of principles.

    1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC

    That notion of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear which is in the mind, is called the "idea" of hunger, cold, etc.

    1725, Isaac Watts, Logick: Or, The Right Use of Reason in the Enquiry after Truth, […], 2nd edition, London: […] John Clark and Richard Hett, […], Emanuel Matthews, […], and Richard Ford, […], published 1726, →OCLC

    Notion, again, signifies either the act of apprehending, signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities afford, or the result of that act.

    a. 1857, William Hamilton, edited by H[enry] L[ongueville] Mansel and John Veitch, Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1859–1860, →OCLC
  2. A sentiment; an opinion.

    December 2, 1832, John Henry Newman, Wilfulness, the Sin of Saul A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity.

    2 more examples

    The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves.

    1715 April 12 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 30. Friday, April 2. [1715.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC

    “Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke[…]whom the papers are making such a fuss about.”

    1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court
  3. obsoleteSense; mind.

    Who wrought with them, and all things else that might / To half a soul and to a notion crazed / Say, 'Thus did Banquo.'

    c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 140
  4. colloquialAn invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.

    Yankee notions

  5. Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, either for attachment to garments or as a tool, such as a button, zipper, or thimble.
  6. colloquialInclination; intention; predisposition; disposition.

    I have a notion to do it.

  7. Irelandcolloquialin pluralPretentiousness or overambition.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna vague idea in which some confidence is placed

Similar
impressionfeelingbeliefopinion
Broader
ideathought

nounan odd or fanciful or capricious idea

Similar
whimwhimsywhimsey
Broader
ideathought
Also see
apprehensionbeliefconceptconstructfeelingimaginationimpressionopinionwhimwhimsy

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinnōtiō“a becoming acquainted, a taking cognizance, an examination, an investigation, a conception, idea, notion”
  2. Englishnotion

From Latin nōtiō (“a becoming acquainted, a taking cognizance, an examination, an investigation, a conception, idea, notion”), from nōscō (“to know”). Compare French notion. See know.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic مَفْهُوم, تَصَوُّر
  • مَفْهُوم (mafhūm)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • تَصَوُّر (taṣawwur)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • فِكْرَة (fikra)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Bulgarian иде́я, поня́тие
  • иде́я (idéja)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • поня́тие (ponjátie)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • въ́зглед (vắzgled)sentiment; an opinion
  • намере́ние (namerénie)inclination; intention; disposition
Catalan noció, noció
  • nociómental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • nociósentiment; an opinion
Chinese Mandarin 概念
  • 概念 (gàiniàn)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Czech pojem, představa
  • pojemmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • představasentiment; an opinion
Dutch notie, besef
  • notiemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • besefmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Esperanto nocio
  • nociomental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Finnish käsite, käsitys
  • käsitemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • käsitysmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • käsityssentiment; an opinion
  • aikomusinclination; intention; disposition
French notion
  • notionmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
German Ahnung, Ansicht
  • Ahnungmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Ansichtmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Auffassungmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Begriffmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Denkbildmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Gedankemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Ideemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • Einfallsentiment; an opinion
  • Neigunginclination; intention; disposition
  • Absichtinclination; intention; disposition
  • Lustinclination; intention; disposition
Greek αντίληψη, θεώρηση
  • αντίληψη (antílipsi)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • θεώρηση (theórisi)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • γνώμη (gnómi)sentiment; an opinion
  • άποψη (ápopsi)sentiment; an opinion
Hindi संकल्पना
  • संकल्पना (saṅkalpanā)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Hungarian gondolat, elképzelés
  • gondolatmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • elképzelésmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • elgondolásmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • fogalommental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Irish éirim, smaoineamh
  • éirimmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • smaoineamhmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • nóiseanmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Italian nozione, concetto
  • nozionemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • concettomental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • opinionesentiment; an opinion
  • inclinazioneinclination; intention; disposition
  • intenzioneinclination; intention; disposition
Japanese 概念
  • 概念 (gainen)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Korean 개념
  • 개념 (gaenyeom)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Latin nōtiō
  • nōtiōmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Latvian priekšstats, priekšstats
  • priekšstatsmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • priekšstatssentiment; an opinion
  • nodomsinclination; intention; disposition
  • nolūksinclination; intention; disposition
Māori ariā
  • ariāmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Norwegian Bokmål begrep, forestilling
  • begrepmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • forestillingmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • anelsemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Polish pojęcie
  • pojęciemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Portuguese noção, idéia
  • noçãomental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • idéiamental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • noçãosentiment; an opinion
  • opiniãosentiment; an opinion
  • intençãoinclination; intention; disposition
Romanian noțiune, opinie
  • noțiunemental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • opiniesentiment; an opinion
  • înclinațieinclination; intention; disposition
Russian поня́тие, иде́я
  • поня́тие (ponjátije)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • иде́я (idéja)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • представле́ние (predstavlénije)sentiment; an opinion
  • мне́ние (mnénije)sentiment; an opinion
Scottish Gaelic smaoin, smaoin
  • smaoinmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • smaoinsentiment; an opinion
Slovak pojem
  • pojemmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Spanish noción, ganas
  • nociónmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • ganasinclination; intention; disposition
  • intencióninclination; intention; disposition
Swedish begrepp
  • begreppmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Turkish fikir, kavram
  • fikirmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • kavrammental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • mefhummental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • nosyonmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • görüşsentiment; an opinion
  • eğiliminclination; intention; disposition
Ukrainian поня́ття, іде́я
  • поня́ття (ponjáttja)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • іде́я (idéja)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • уя́влення (ujávlennja)sentiment; an opinion
  • іде́я (idéja)sentiment; an opinion
Urdu مَفہُوم, تَصَوُّر
  • مَفہُوم (mafhūm)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
  • تَصَوُّر (tasavvur)mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Vietnamese khái niệm
  • khái niệmmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception
Welsh syniad
  • syniadmental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with notion

motionoceanpromotionemotionlotionpotioncommotionlocomotionCappadociancounterexplosionMiddle Oceanpoetry in motion
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

notion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/notion

MLA

“notion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/notion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “notion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/notion.

Source: notion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.