ideation

noun

ide·​a·​tion ˌī-dē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce ideation (audio)
: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas
Local coaches and mentors guide student teams through the process of ideation, market research, and business plan development …Maryann Mills
… the new space offers a smorgasbord of work environments—cozy two-chair-and-a-screen setups for small Zoom gatherings, … and floor-to-ceiling whiteboards in some places for spontaneous ideationChase DiFeliciantonio
see also suicidal ideation

Examples of ideation in a Sentence

a product designer who went from ideation to creation quickly
Recent Examples on the Web The Greater Cincinnati community, like the nation, saw evidence of suicide ideation during the pandemic. The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Through the iterative cycle of ideation, creation, and presentation, hackathons provide a microcosm of the project lifecycle, offering a practical education that empowers individuals to transform ideas into tangible outcomes. Sandy Carter, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 For example, some people excel at ideation while others thrive in execution, so building a balanced team is key for innovation and task completion. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 In the lawsuit against TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, the city of New York said the platforms are responsible for an uptick in mental health issues among young people, including depression and suicide ideation. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 Imagine a screenwriter using Sora not just for research and formatting help but as an ideation partner, riffing on plot and character ideas. Elijah Clark, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Both professionals encourage those with suicidal thoughts to seek help, and clarify that asking about these ideations is actually a normal part of their job. Alexandra Frost, Popular Science, 28 Sep. 2023 Carving out dedicated time is the only way to go deep on creative ideation and execution. Greg Smith, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 What this means is that the completion of suicide often occurs when ideation, opportunity and a lack of interruption converge into a single unretractable moment. Billy Lezra, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ideation was in 1805

Dictionary Entries Near ideation

Cite this Entry

“Ideation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

ideation

noun
ide·​a·​tion ˌīd-ē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce ideation (audio)
: the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas
The spectrum of paranoid ideation goes from mild distrust and suspiciousness to full-blown persecutory delusions.R. Bianchi and L. Janin, Occupational Medicine
The cognitive ability to generate many creative ideas, or creative ideation, is one facet of creativity.Tammy C. Pannells and Amy F. Claxton, Creativity Research Journal
see also suicidal ideation

More from Merriam-Webster on ideation

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