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

The Shakespearean conceptual artist who turned Romeo and Juliet into Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024

This is the conceptual link between WOC and the finance-theoretic concept known as the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). —George Calhoun, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

Arkani-Hamed and his collaborators aspire to bring about a conceptual revolution of the sort that rocked physics in the late 1700s. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024

The inaugural award was initially intended to go to one artist but was instead granted to two: Julian Charrière, a French-Swiss conceptual artist based in Berlin, and Cecilia Vicuña, a Chilean poet and weaver who splits time between New York Santiago, Chile. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

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