notional

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈnoʊʃənəl/ UK /ˈnəʊʃənəl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
existing only in theory or as a supposition; hypothetical

The cost is purely notional and may never actually be charged.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · existing only in theory or... hypothetical theoretical conceptual abstract imaginary speculative conjectural

Opposites

actual real concrete

Word family

Derived forms notionally

Related forms notion note

Etymology

From notion + -al, from Latin notio ('concept, idea'), from notus ('known'), past participle of noscere ('to know').

notio Latin noscere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# notional

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈnoʊʃənəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnəʊʃənəl/

## Meanings
1. existing only in theory or as a supposition; hypothetical

## Examples
- The cost is purely notional and may never actually be charged.

## Synonyms
- hypothetical
- theoretical
- conceptual
- abstract
- imaginary
- speculative
- conjectural

## Antonyms
- actual
- real
- concrete

## Derived Forms
- notionally

## Related Forms
- notion
- note

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: notio
- Root: noscere

## Etymology
From notion + -al, from Latin notio ('concept, idea'), from notus ('known'), past participle of noscere ('to know').

## AI Etymology
Notional comes from notion + -al, from Latin notio ('concept, idea'), from notus ('known'), past participle of noscere ('to know'). The historical trail runs through Latin notio and Latin noscere. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means existing only in theory or as a supposition; hypothetical. Derived formations include notionally; related forms include notion, note.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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