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notionally

notionally

1 7.1
In theory or for calculation, it is not actually real
  • adverb
  • /ˈnoʊʃənəli/
translation icon : teóricamente
  • The budget is notionally balanced, but in reality, we are running a deficit.
  • differs merely notionally
  • merely notionally

If you're American, you know, we're that in at least in at least notionally, we're equal as as members of a nation, Right.

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Examples

  • In a notionally ideal world, everyone would have access to education regardless of their background.

  • When Richard Prince appropriates something, he's not stealing art—he's stealing an advertisement and changing it, if only notionally.

    Blog text (28)
  • Some people think you can just notionally print or create as much as you need.

    Blog text (3)
  • Such expectations should notionally shape the agents' actual behavior in the marketplace.

    Academic text (2016)
  • They envy those parts of the business that can notionally prove their value on a spreadsheet absolutely down to the last cent.

  • In general, the "information" that is conveyed is (notionally) just the value of an index used to select from a list.

    Blog text (16)
  • On the central point of my article, the gift of God's love, Lonergan wrote, "this gift we have been describing really is sanctifying grace but notionally differs from it."

    Academic text (2007)
  • In Method in Theology, Bernard Lonergan described religious experience as a "dynamic state of being in love unrestrictedly," and he suggested that this description differs merely notionally from the traditional idea of "sanctifying grace."

    Academic text (2007)
  • In terms of the associated international capital flows, notionally, countries in which the return on capital is equal to the global average would be in current account balance; those offering higher returns would be in some degree of external deficit financed by capital inflows, and those offering lower returns would be in external surplus and exporting capital.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Ultimately, a slice of the entirety of the remainder of society's activities could notionally be apportioned to each energy gathering activity, giving all energy sources an EROEI of 1:110.

    Blog text (32)

Synonyms

theoretically
vsnotionally
119 6.0

An idea that seems right but is not always true in real life

is used for calculation or conceptual purposes rather than broad theory
hypothetically
vsnotionally
72 6.3

To imagine a situation to talk about what might happen

is used for conceptual calculation or definitions rather than speculative imagination
in theory
vsnotionally
69 4.9

According to an idea or rule, but not always true in real life

is used mainly for calculations or conceptual examples not real cases
in principle
vsnotionally
53 4.3

People agree to it in general but details are not decided

is used for calculation or conceptual examples rather than a general agreement
conceptually
vsnotionally
15 7.0

In a way that uses ideas instead of physical things

is used for calculation or imagined numbers rather than abstract thought
abstractly
vsnotionally
4 7.4

In a way that deals with ideas rather than real things

is applied for calculation or conceptual reasons rather than actual reality
conjecturally
vsnotionally
9.6

In a way that uses a guess because the facts are not known

is used for planned calculation or conceptual reasoning rather than mere guess

How Theoretical

theoretically
119 6.0
notionally
1 7.1
practically
12 2.5
actually
1.0

Surface Forms

notionally positive

Morphology

notionally = notional (transparent) = notion + al + ly

Formed by adding -ly to the adjective 'notional' (notion + -al), so the adverbial meaning 'in theory' is directly derived from the base.

Etymology

Notionally comes from notion ('an idea'), so it means 'in theory' or 'on paper'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of numbers or rights that are counted for calculation but are not actually real in practice.