Relating to or based on mental concepts rather than physical reality. Existing in thought or as an abstract idea.
From Latin 'conceptus' meaning 'something conceived' plus suffix '-al'. Entered English in the 19th century from philosophical discourse about abstract thinking versus concrete experience.
This word perfectly captures the divide between what exists in our minds versus what we can touch - conceptual art, for instance, prioritizes ideas over traditional craft skills. Interestingly, 'conceptual' didn't exist as a word until philosophers needed to distinguish between pure ideas and their physical manifestations.
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