noun
ideation
eye-dee-AY-shun
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.”
noun
1
business The process of coming up with new ideas, especially as a deliberate stage in design, marketing or product development.
"The first workshop is pure ideation, with no budget talk at all."
"Their ideation sessions produced forty concepts in two days."
2
technical The forming of ideas or mental images; used in psychiatry of recurring thoughts about a particular subject.
"The assessment screens for suicidal ideation."
"Clinicians distinguish passive ideation from active planning."
How to use ideation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComing up with ideas.
When to use it
Formal or jargonish in business contexts; strictly technical in clinical ones, where it should be used carefully.
Memory tip
The verb ideate exists but sounds stiff outside design studios; come up with ideas is usually better English.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ideation session
ideation phase
suicidal ideation
rapid ideation
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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
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ideation
region
billion
ablation
allusion
emulsion
novation
abortion
abrasion
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
See all 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.
What is the meaning of ideation?
"ideation" (noun) means the process of coming up with new ideas, especially as a deliberate stage in design, marketing or product development.
