Conceptual
/kənˈsɛptʃuəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to or involving concepts; based on ideas rather than practical experience.
/kənˈsɛptʃuəl/
Relating to or based on ideas or concepts.
The artist's work is highly conceptual, focusing on the ideas behind the images rather than their realism.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're brainstorming. Conceptual is like coming up with the big picture idea before you start building anything. It's about the thought process, not the actual thing itself. For example, a conceptual design for a building is just the idea of what it might look like.
👶 For kids: When something is conceptual, it means it's all about ideas! Like when you draw a picture of your dream house, that's a conceptual drawing because it shows your idea, not the real house yet.
More Examples
A conceptual approach to problem-solving often involves brainstorming different solutions.
The company is in the conceptual phase of its new marketing campaign.
How It's Used
"The philosopher explored the conceptual framework of free will."
"Conceptual art often prioritizes the idea behind the artwork over its aesthetic qualities."
"The team developed a conceptual model for the new product launch."
Existing in the form of a concept or idea; not necessarily existing in reality.
/kənˈsɛptʃuəl/
Existing as an idea, notion, or concept.
The initial design was a purely conceptual representation of the final product.
💡 Simply: It means something exists as an idea, not a physical thing yet. Think of it like a rough sketch. It's conceptual until the artist paints the real picture or builds the real thing. So it's all in the planning stages!
👶 For kids: Something is conceptual when it only exists in our thoughts or drawings, not yet in real life. It's like your plan to build a lego castle - the plan is conceptual!
More Examples
They're still working through the conceptual stages of the project.
The artist's conceptual approach challenges traditional notions of beauty.
How It's Used
"The architect presented conceptual renderings of the building's design."
"The research involved developing a conceptual model to explain the observed phenomenon."
Idioms & expressions
conceptual framework
A set of ideas or principles that provides a structure for a particular area of research or study.
"The research was based on a robust conceptual framework that guided the analysis."
From Late Latin *conceptuālis*, from *conceptus* ('conceived'), past participle of *concipere* ('to conceive'), from *con-* ('with') + *capere* ('to take').
The word 'conceptual' gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of abstract thought and modern art movements.
Memory tip
Think of a CONCEPT and how it relates to an idea or thought.
Word Origin
"conceived, thought"