ideational

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparablespecialist

   Concerned with ideas, concepts, or meanings rather than objects, actions, or social relations.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun in academic writing: ideational function, ideational content.

   Patterns

   • ideational function
   • ideational meaning
   • ideational content

   In this grammar, the ideational function helps speakers represent events and experiences.

   The artist moved from material experiments to more ideational work about memory.

   Her essay compares ideational change with changes in daily practice.

2. 2adjectivenot comparabletechnicalspecialist

   In psychology, relating to mental images, thoughts, or the formation of ideas.

   Grammar: A technical sense; avoid it in casual conversation unless discussing theory.

   Patterns

   • ideational processes
   • ideational fluency
   • ideational activity

   The study measured ideational fluency by asking for many uses of a brick.

   Trauma can affect ideational processes without erasing factual memory.

   Therapy explored the patient's ideational world rather than only behavior.

Common combinations

ideational function

The ideational function organizes experience into clauses.

ideational meaning

The slogan has strong ideational meaning but little practical detail.

ideational fluency

Brainstorming exercises can improve ideational fluency.

Synonyms and how they differ

conceptual

More common and broader; ideational is narrower and common in linguistics or psychology.

abstract

Emphasizes not concrete; ideational emphasizes organized thought or ideas.

Opposites

Word family

idea noun

A thought, plan, or mental picture.

ideation noun

The formation of ideas, especially in technical contexts.

Commonly confused: ideational or ideal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ideational”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words