-shən ə l, -shnəl adjective
Etymology: notion + -al
1.
a. : having an abstract or speculative character : not based on fact or empirical investigation : theoretical
distinguishes between … notional assent and apprehension and real assent and apprehension — Times Literary Supplement
a notional figure of cost is given to them so that they may determine their production costs — Packet Foods
more notional than empirical
b. archaic : given to speculation or holding speculative views
2. : existing in the mind only : visionary , imaginary , unreal
is fictional only, as furnishing … a repository and notional vehicle for the later transfer of title — McLean v. Keith
3.
a. : given to, marked by, or reflecting foolish or fanciful moods or ideas : whimsical , crotchety
subject to all the notional vagaries of childhood — Gerald Beaumont
ships weren't notional — Richard Hallet
both reactionary and notional to reject so much of modern history — L.P.Curtis
b. dialect : being of the opinion
I'm notional that there is something queer afoot — S.H.Adams
4.
a. : of, relating to, or being a notion or idea
can improve notional comprehension — J.T.Clark
b.
(1) : carrying a full meaning of its own : having descriptive value in presenting an idea of a thing or quality
has is notional in he has luck, relational in he has gone
(2) : of or representing what exists or occurs in the world of things as distinguished from syntactic categories
sex is a notional , gender a syntactic category
• no·tion·al·i·ty ˌnōshəˈnaləd.ē noun -es
• no·tion·al·ly ˈnōshən ə lē, -shnəl-, -i adverb