Ideational: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in academic or intellectual discussions to describe thoughts, ideas, or concepts that are not physical but exist in the mind.

• His ideational understanding of ethics helped shape his policies
• The novel's ideational framework challenges conventional morality

Used to describe the forming of ideas or concepts within various disciplines, such as art, philosophy, and science. It tends to be neutral and descriptive.

• The project's success was due to solid conceptual planning
• In conceptual art, the idea is often more important than the final product

Commonly used when discussing art, theories, or ideas that are not concrete or immediately obvious. It often implies a higher degree of complexity or difficulty in understanding.

• The artist's abstract painting provoked much thought
• The concept of justice is often considered abstract

Commonly used in academic or scientific contexts to refer to ideas or principles based on theory rather than practical application. It often has a neutral or positive connotation.

• Her research is highly theoretical but groundbreaking
• In theoretical physics, scientists explore concepts that may not be immediately observable