ideation
Ideation (noun) means the process of coming up with new ideas, especially as a deliberate stage in design, marketing or product development. Example: “The first workshop is pure ideation, with no budget talk at all.”
How to Use Ideation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComing up with ideas.
Formal or jargonish in business contexts; strictly technical in clinical ones, where it should be used carefully.
The verb ideate exists but sounds stiff outside design studios; come up with ideas is usually better English.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The first workshop is pure _____, with no budget talk at all.
Etymology
Formed from idea, ultimately from Greek idea meaning 'form' or 'notion', plus the noun ending -ation.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ideation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ideation and brainstorming?
Brainstorming is one technique, typically a group throwing out suggestions without judging them. Ideation is the whole idea-generating stage, which may include research, sketching, mapping and several rounds of brainstorming.
What does suicidal ideation mean?
It is the clinical term for thoughts about ending one's life. Passive ideation means wishing to be dead without a plan; active ideation involves intent or planning and is treated as more urgent. Anyone experiencing it should speak to a doctor or a crisis line.
Is ideation just business jargon?
In corporate use it often is, and idea generation says the same thing more plainly. The word is genuinely useful in psychology and design, where it names a specific stage or symptom.