notional

The definition of notional is something that exists only in theory or only in the imagination.

(adjective)

An example of something that is notional is a scientific theory or belief that has not yet been tested or proven.

See notional in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of, expressing, or consisting of notions, or concepts
imaginary; not actual: to inhabit a notional world
☆ having visionary ideas; given to whims; fanciful
Gram. having full lexical, as distinguished from relational, meaning: “have” is notional in “we have a problem” and relational in “we have solved a problem”

Origin: ML notionalis

Related Forms:

See notional in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Of, containing, or being a notion; mental or imaginary.
Speculative or theoretical.
Linguistics Conveying an idea of a thing or of an action; having full lexical meaning as distinguished from relational meaning. The word did is notional in We did the work and relational in We did not agree.

Related Forms: