We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out more

Subscriber login

Library card login

Other

X Close menu

Dictionary Language resources

notional

Pronunciation: /ˈnəʊʃ(ə)n(ə)l/

Definition of notional

adjective

1existing as or based on a suggestion, estimate, or theory; not existing in reality:notional budgets for hospital and community health services

2 Linguistics denoting or relating to an approach to grammar which is dependent on the definition of terminology (e.g. ‘a verb is a doing word’) as opposed to identification of structures and processes.

Derivatives

notionally

Origin:

late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from obsolete French, or from medieval Latin notionalis 'relating to an idea', from notio(n-) 'idea' (see notion)