Synonyms of concept

concept

noun

ˈkän-ˌsept 

1

as in notion

an idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation

trying to change the public's concept of a nightly newscast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notion
• conception
• stereotype
• theory
• generalization
• hypothesis
• saying
• generality
• cliché
• truism
• proposition
• commonplace
• platitude
• adage
• saw
• bromide
• proverb
• simplification
• oversimplification
• simplism

2

as in idea

something imagined or pictured in the mind

a concept for a new kind of automobile that could revolutionize the industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idea
• thought
• notion
• conception
• impression
• image
• picture
• abstraction
• perception
• cogitation
• intellection
• observation
• theory
• reflection
• belief
• assumption
• mind's eye
• hunch
• preconception
• illusion
• hypothesis
• premonition
• prejudice
• apprehension
• delusion
• cognition
• presentiment
• chimera
• conceit
• conviction
• hallucination
• whim
• guess
• vagary
• speculation
• phantasm
• prepossession
• conjecture
• conclusion
• caprice
• fancy
• kink
• surmise
• brainchild
• supposition
• inspiration
• brain wave
• freak
• brainstorm

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• reality
• actuality

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun concept contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of concept are conception, idea, impression, notion, and thought. While all these words mean "what exists in the mind as a representation (as of something comprehended) or as a formulation (as of a plan)," concept may apply to the idea formed by consideration of instances of a species or genus or, more broadly, to any idea of what a thing ought to be.

a society with no concept of private property

How do conception and concept relate to one another?

Conception is often interchangeable with concept; it may stress the process of imagining or formulating rather than the result.

our changing conception of what constitutes art

When is it sensible to use idea instead of concept?

The synonyms idea and concept are sometimes interchangeable, but idea may apply to a mental image or formulation of something seen or known or imagined, to a pure abstraction, or to something assumed or vaguely sensed.

innovative ideas

my idea of paradise

When would impression be a good substitute for concept?

The words impression and concept are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impression applies to an idea or notion resulting immediately from some stimulation of the senses.

the first impression is of soaring height

Where would notion be a reasonable alternative to concept?

The words notion and concept can be used in similar contexts, but notion suggests an idea not much resolved by analysis or reflection and may suggest the capricious or accidental.

you have the oddest notions

When could thought be used to replace concept?

The meanings of thought and concept largely overlap; however, thought is likely to suggest the result of reflecting, reasoning, or meditating rather than of imagining.

commit your thoughts to paper

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of concept

All games of chance, from Yahtzee to horse race betting, rely on probability, a relatively unintuitive concept. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2026

The concept of merit goods (originally called merit wants) was first introduced by economist Richard Musgrave in 1957 in an article on budget determination in FinanzArchiv and then summarized in his 1959 book The Theory of Public Finance. —Bylaura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

The concept, built by chef Kian Samyani around the kebab houses of Tehran, has outposts in Doha, Dubai, and Los Angeles. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026

Finally, Sourcing Journal looks at how Standard Textile is celebrating 85 years by leveraging its vertical integration to turn circularity from a concept into a scalable industrial reality. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026