conceptual

adjective

con·​cep·​tu·​al kən-ˈsep-chə-wəl How to pronounce conceptual (audio)
-chü-əl,
kän-,
-chəl,
-shwəl
: of, relating to, or consisting of concepts
conceptual thinking
the project's conceptual and technical hurdles
conceptual designs
conceptuality
kən-ˌsep-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē How to pronounce conceptual (audio)
-shə-;
-chü-ˈa-
-shü-
noun
conceptually adverb

Examples of conceptual in a Sentence

The plans have both conceptual and practical difficulties. conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity
Recent Examples on the Web Image Since the spots do not respond to any text and don’t need to solve any conceptual problem, the editing process tends to be lighter than that of the larger illustrations that appear on our pages. Vinnie Neuberg, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024 Screenwriter Sascha Seinfeld and model Cory Kennedy were there, along with TikTok cool kid Griffin Maxwell Brooks and the Palestinian-Israeli design duo Gabriel Asfour and Adi Gil from the conceptual fashion house ThreeASFOUR. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024 The new 1,500-square-foot Michael Kors Collection store opened at 242 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills on April 18 and is the first North American location to premiere the brand’s new conceptual design for its collection boutiques. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024 Like no one before, she's turned her spotlit day-to-day into a conceptual project commenting on women's freedom, artistic ambition and the place of the personal in the public sphere. Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024 Love songs became operatic, employing baroque arrangements and conceptual flourishes. Ernesto Lechner, SPIN, 16 Apr. 2024 As negotiations continue over future amendments continue, pro-development lawmakers and lobbyists will need to come to a shared conceptual understanding of what the builder’s remedy is actually for, Elmendorf said. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024 Nowhere is this more apparent than in programming, where abstraction isn’t just a conceptual convenience but an absolute necessity. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024 When my mother was curating an enormous installation—constructed from church candles and cow bones—by Brazilian conceptual artist Cildo Meireles at MoMA, for example, feijoada brunches became a norm in our household. Nora Zelevansky, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conceptual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin conceptualis of thought, from Late Latin conceptus act of conceiving, thought, from Latin concipere — see concept entry 1

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conceptual was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near conceptual

Cite this Entry

“Conceptual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conceptual. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

conceptual

adjective
: of, relating to, or consisting of concepts
conceptually adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on conceptual

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