notional
adjective
no·tion·al
ˈnō-sh(ə-)nəl 
1
2
: existing in the mind only : imaginary
3
: given to foolish or fanciful moods or ideas
4
a
: of, relating to, or being a notion or idea : conceptual
b(1)
: presenting an idea of a thing, action, or quality
has is notional in he has luck, relational in he has gone
(2)
: of or representing what exists or occurs in the world of things as distinguished from syntactic categories
Synonyms
Examples of notional in a Sentence
The notional earnings of the company were close to the actual ones.
she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love
Recent Examples on the Web
The token has been highly volatile but appears to be worth billions of dollars of notional value to the Trump family.
—
Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
His tax reform of 1978, a major priority, was dead on arrival even among notional allies.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
This could push China first over the finish line in a notional race to return Martian materials to Earth—but at considerable scientific cost.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
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Jesse Pound, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025
His tax reform of 1978, a major priority, was dead on arrival even among notional allies.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
This could push China first over the finish line in a notional race to return Martian materials to Earth—but at considerable scientific cost.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
See all Example Sentences for notional
Dictionary Entries Near notional
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notional. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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