ideation

noun

ide·​a·​tion ˌī-dē-ˈā-shən 

: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas

Local coaches and mentors guide student teams through the process of ideation, market research, and business plan development …

—Maryann Mills

… the new space offers a smorgasbord of work environments—cozy two-chair-and-a-screen setups for small Zoom gatherings, … and floor-to-ceiling whiteboards in some places for spontaneous ideation …

—Chase DiFeliciantonio

see also suicidal ideation

Synonyms

• contrivance
• creativity
• fancy
• fantasy
• phantasy
• imagination
• imaginativeness
• invention
• inventiveness
• originality

Examples of ideation in a Sentence

a product designer who went from ideation to creation quickly

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s used to report crimes, fights, threats, vandalism, graffiti, vaping in the bathroom, suicide ideation and more. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024

Its strength lies in its highly visual and flexible platform, which helps users with real-time brainstorming, ideation and collaborative design. —Melody Brue, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

The program hones in on ideation, UX user testing and marketing, and leadership and storytelling. —Essence, 4 Oct. 2024

In both cases, authorities found evidence after the shooting that the shooter had kept writings expressing violent ideation. —Aja Romano, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ideation

• suicidal ideation

Medical Definition

ideation

noun

ide·​a·​tion ˌīd-ē-ˈā-shən 

: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas

The spectrum of paranoid ideation goes from mild distrust and suspiciousness to full-blown persecutory delusions.

—R. Bianchi and L. Janin, Occupational Medicine

The cognitive ability to generate many creative ideas, or creative ideation, is one facet of creativity.

—Tammy C. Pannells and Amy F. Claxton, Creativity Research Journal

see also suicidal ideation