Ideational

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ʌɪdɪˈeɪʃən(ə)l/

Definitions

1. This adjective pertains to the processes of idea formation and conceptualization, linking cognitive functions with abstract thought and mental representations
2. It describes elements associated with creating and organizing ideas, emphasizing the relationship between thought processes and conceptual frameworks
3. This adjective relates to the processes involved in the generation and structuring of ideas, highlighting the connection between conceptualization and cognitive activity

Etymology: Ideational is built from "ideation," which itself comes from "idea" plus the suffix "-ation," with "-al" added on the end to make it an adjective. The chain runs back to ancient Greek, where "idéa" meant a form, shape or pattern that could be seen, from "ĭdeîn," to see. Latin borrowed that sense as "idea," and English later took the word over, initially with a meaning close to a mental image or pattern before drifting toward the modern notion of a thought or concept. The key step is the suffix. Latin "-ātiō" turned verbs into nouns of action, and it passed into English through Old French as "-ation." Joined to "idea," the English verb "ideate," meaning to form an idea or picture in the mind, gave rise to "ideation," the process of forming ideas. "Ideational" then adds "-al," an ordinary adjective ending inherited through Old French from Latin "-ālis," so the whole word simply means relating to the formation or content of ideas.

Synonyms: conceptual, theoretical, abstract, notional, imaginary

Antonyms: concrete, practical, realistic