Idea vs. Notion — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 4, 2024
Idea refers to a thought or suggestion aimed at solving a problem or creating something, whereas a notion is a more informal belief or impulse about something.
Difference Between Idea and Notion
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An idea is typically a well-developed concept that can lead to actionable plans or creative projects, often resulting from deliberate thinking or brainstorming sessions. Whereas a notion tends to be less concrete, often arising spontaneously or based on personal feelings rather than systematic thought.
Ideas are usually supported by some level of detail and reasoning that helps to elaborate or implement them effectively. On the other hand, notions are generally more speculative and may lack the depth required to develop them into fully formed ideas.
In academic and professional contexts, ideas are crucial as they contribute to knowledge production and practical solutions. Whereas, notions are more likely to be used in casual conversations, reflecting personal perspectives or preliminary thoughts that may or may not be explored further.
Ideas often evolve into theories, projects, or innovations, reflecting a significant level of maturity and feasibility. On the other hand, notions might remain as fleeting thoughts or insights that influence opinions but do not necessarily lead to concrete outcomes.
Ideas can be documented, researched, and communicated in structured formats, making them integral to educational, scientific, and business processes. In contrast, notions, due to their informal and less structured nature, are less likely to be formally documented or scrutinized.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A thought with a purpose or potential outcome.
An informal belief or impression.
Formality
Often formal and structured.
Generally informal and unstructured.
Development
Can be detailed and well-planned.
Typically vague and spontaneous.
Usage Context
Used in professional, academic settings.
Common in casual or personal discussions.
Potential for Action
High potential to lead to actions or projects.
Lower potential for direct action.
Compare with Definitions
Idea
A concept or plan formed in the mind.
He had an idea to improve the software’s efficiency.
Notion
A conception of or belief about something.
She had a notion that the meeting would be postponed.
Idea
The aim or purpose of something.
The idea behind the design was user-friendliness.
Notion
A whimsical or fanciful idea.
Her notions about decorating are both unique and charming.
Idea
A mental impression or notion.
I have no idea how to proceed with this problem.
Notion
An impulse or desire, especially one of a whimsical kind.
He took a notion to sail around the world.
Idea
A belief or opinion.
The idea that technology can solve all problems is overly optimistic.
Notion
An individual’s opinion or belief.
The notion that cats are unsociable is common but incorrect.
Idea
A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action.
Her idea to organize a fundraiser was enthusiastically received.
Notion
A vague or imperfect conception of something.
His notion of time management is quite different from the actual practice.
Idea
In common usage and in philosophy, ideas are abstract concepts. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object.
Notion
A conception of or belief about something
I had no notion of what her words meant
Children have different notions about the roles of their parents
Idea
A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action
Recently, the idea of linking pay to performance has caught on
It's a good idea to do some research before you go
Notion
An impulse or desire, especially one of a whimsical kind
She had a notion to ring her friend at work
Idea
The aim or purpose
I took a job with the idea of getting some money together
Notion
Items used in sewing, such as buttons, pins, and hooks.
Idea
(in Platonic thought) an eternally existing pattern of which individual things in any class are imperfect copies.
Notion
A belief or opinion
Had an old-fashioned notion of what qualities were most important in a mate.
Idea
Something, such as a thought or conception, that is the product of mental activity.
Notion
A mental image; an idea or conception
Do you have any notion of what I'm referring to?.
Idea
An opinion, conviction, or principle
Has some strange political ideas.
Notion
An impulse or whim
I suddenly had the notion of walking by the river.
Idea
A plan, purpose, or goal
She started school with the idea of becoming a doctor.
Notion
Notions Small lightweight items for household use, such as needles, buttons, and thread.
Idea
The gist or significance
The idea of the article is that investing in green technology can save you money in the long run.
Notion
Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.
Idea
A sense that something can happen; a notion or expectation
They have this idea that we can just drop what we're doing and go to the park.
Notion
A sentiment; an opinion.
Idea
(Music) A theme or motif.
Notion
(obsolete) Sense; mind.
Idea
In the philosophy of Plato, a non-physical form or archetype to which beings in phenomenal reality correspond only as imperfect replicas.
Notion
(colloquial) An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.
Yankee notions
Idea
In the philosophy of Kant, a concept of reason that is transcendent but nonempirical.
Notion
Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, either for attachment to garments or as a tool, such as a button, zipper, or thimble.
Idea
In the philosophy of Hegel, absolute truth; the complete and ultimate product of reason.
Notion
(colloquial) Inclination; intention; disposition.
I have a notion' to do it.
Idea
(Obsolete) A mental image of something remembered.
Notion
Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as distinguishable or definable by marks or notæ.
What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the notion of principles.
Few agree in their notions about these words.
That notion of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear which is in the mind, is called the "idea" of hunger, cold, etc.
Notion, again, signifies either the act of apprehending, signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities afford, or the result of that act.
Idea
(philosophy) An abstract archetype of a given thing, compared to which real-life examples are seen as imperfect approximations; pure essence, as opposed to actual examples.
Notion
A sentiment; an opinion.
The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves.
A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity.
Idea
(obsolete) The conception of someone or something as representing a perfect example; an ideal.
Notion
Sense; mind.
Idea
(obsolete) The form or shape of something; a quintessential aspect or characteristic.
Notion
An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack; as, Yankee notions.
Idea
An image of an object that is formed in the mind or recalled by the memory.
The mere idea of you is enough to excite me.
Notion
Inclination; intention; disposition; as, I have a notion to do it.
Idea
More generally, any result of mental activity; a thought, a notion; a way of thinking.
Notion
Miscellaneous small objects; sundries; - usually referring to articles displayed together for sale.
Idea
A conception in the mind of something to be done; a plan for doing something, an intention.
I have an idea of how we might escape.
Notion
A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
Idea
A purposeful aim or goal; intent
Yeah, that's the idea.
Notion
A general inclusive concept
Idea
A vague or fanciful notion; a feeling or hunch; an impression.
He had the wild idea that if he leant forward a little, he might be able to touch the mountain-top.
Notion
An odd or fanciful or capricious idea;
The theatrical notion of disguise is associated with disaster in his stories
He had a whimsy about flying to the moon
Whimsy can be humorous to someone with time to enjoy it
Idea
(music) A musical theme or melodic subject.
Notion
(usually plural) small personal articles or clothing or sewing items;
Buttons and needles are notions
Idea
The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual.
Her sweet idea wandered through his thoughts.
Being the right idea of your fatherBoth in your form and nobleness of mind.
This representation or likeness of the object being transmitted from thence [the senses] to the imagination, and lodged there for the view and observation of the pure intellect, is aptly and properly called its idea.
Idea
A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization.
Alice had not the slightest idea what latitude was.
Idea
Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of.
Whatsoever the mind perceives in itself, or as the immediate object of perception, thought, or undersanding, that I call idea.
Idea
A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development.
That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one.
What is now "idea" for us? How infinite the fall of this word, since the time where Milton sang of the Creator contemplating his newly-created world, -"how it showed . . . Answering his great idea," -to its present use, when this person "has an idea that the train has started," and the other "had no idea that the dinner would be so bad!"
Idea
A plan or purpose of action; intention; design.
I shortly afterwards set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking while there the translation of the work.
Idea
A rational conception; the complete conception of an object when thought of in all its essential elements or constituents; the necessary metaphysical or constituent attributes and relations, when conceived in the abstract.
Idea
A fiction object or picture created by the imagination; the same when proposed as a pattern to be copied, or a standard to be reached; one of the archetypes or patterns of created things, conceived by the Platonists to have excited objectively from eternity in the mind of the Deity.
Thence to behold this new-created world,The addition of his empire, how it showedIn prospect from his throne, how good, how fair,Answering his great idea.
Idea
The content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about;
It was not a good idea
The thought never entered my mind
Idea
A personal view;
He has an idea that we don't like him
Idea
An approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth;
An estimate of what it would cost
A rough idea how long it would take
Idea
Your intention; what you intend to do;
He had in mind to see his old teacher
The idea of the game is to capture all the pieces
Idea
(music) melodic subject of a musical composition;
The theme is announced in the first measures
The accompanist picked up the idea and elaborated it
Common Curiosities
Can notions become ideas?
Yes, notions can evolve into ideas if they are developed and elaborated upon.
Are ideas always practical?
Ideas tend to be more practical and actionable than notions, but not all ideas are necessarily feasible.
What is the main difference between an idea and a notion?
An idea is a well-developed concept with potential for action, whereas a notion is a more informal belief or impulse.
How can one distinguish between an idea and a notion?
Ideas are usually detailed and structured, aiming at practical outcomes, whereas notions are often informal and spontaneous.
Do notions have a role in professional settings?
While less common, notions can spark creative thinking or introduce new perspectives in professional settings.
Can both ideas and notions be innovative?
Yes, both can be innovative, but ideas are more likely to lead to innovation due to their detailed nature.
How do educational systems treat ideas and notions?
Educational systems generally emphasize well-developed ideas in curricula and assessments, whereas notions might be discussed more in brainstorming or creative thinking sessions.
Is it easier to communicate ideas or notions?
Ideas are easier to communicate because they are typically more developed and structured.
What makes an idea successful?
A successful idea is one that is feasible, well-planned, and effectively implemented.
Which is more likely to change, an idea or a notion?
Notions are more flexible and subject to change compared to the often more solidified ideas.
How do ideas and notions influence decision-making?
Ideas influence decision-making through detailed planning and feasibility, whereas notions might influence more by intuition or initial impressions.
What role do notions play in creative processes?
Notions can play a significant role in creative processes by providing initial sparks for imagination and exploration.
Why might someone prefer to work with notions rather than ideas?
Someone might prefer notions for their flexibility and the creative freedom they offer without the constraints of detailed planning.
How are ideas and notions used differently in literature?
In literature, ideas might form the basis of themes and plots, whereas notions often contribute to character development and dialogues.
Can notions be harmful?
Notions can be harmful if they are based on incorrect assumptions or biases and are acted upon without sufficient scrutiny.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
