conceptual

adjective

con·​cep·​tu·​al kən-ˈsep-chə-wəl 

-chü-əl,

kän-,

-chəl,

-shwəl

: of, relating to, or consisting of concepts

conceptual thinking

the project's conceptual and technical hurdles

conceptual designs

conceptuality

kən-ˌsep-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

-shə-;

-chü-ˈa-

-shü-

noun

conceptually adverb

Synonyms

• abstract
• ideal
• ideational
• metaphysical
• notional
• theoretical
• theoretic

Examples of conceptual in a Sentence

The plans have both conceptual and practical difficulties.

conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity

Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere, beauty this week was equal parts femme and freaky: nail art was sculptural, flipped and reversed, hair was piled high to make a poncy French monarch proud, and conceptual makeup took inspo from nature’s most ornate creatures. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025

There is a certain conceptual power in this, as though Shahverdi were shaping the filmmaking itself, though this approach has its limits. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025

Featured here will be new work by Knight, a legendary conceptual artist; a new choreography by Rawls; and a stage play by Weinraub produced in collaboration with New Theater Hollywood. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Charlie Shackleton’s sly film Zodiac Killer Project lives inside this conceptual limbo — nebulously sinister and dryly hilarious all at once. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin conceptualis of thought, from Late Latin conceptus act of conceiving, thought, from Latin concipere — see concept entry 1

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing conceptual

• conceptual art

Medical Definition

conceptual

adjective

con·​cep·​tu·​al kən-ˈsep-chə(-wə)l, kän-, -ˈsepsh-wəl 

: of, relating to, or consisting of concepts

conceptually adverb