WordGarden.ionotionally
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈəʊʃənəli/
US
Meanings
Adverb
in theory or by assumption rather than as an actual fact
according to meaning rather than strict grammatical form
Beyond the definition
Imagine a company announcing big changes, but daily work stays exactly the same. On paper, the company has changed; in real life, it has not. That is the heart of "notionally." It means something is true in theory, in name, or on paper, but not fully true in practice.
Think of it as the difference between the official story and the real situation. A group may be notionally independent, for example, if it is supposed to act on its own but is still controlled by someone else. The word often points to a gap between what is said, planned, or officially listed and what actually happens.
"Notionally" describes something that exists or is true in theory, in name, or as an official idea, rather than in full reality or practice. It points to a gap between what is formally stated and what is actually the case.
For example, a company might be notionally committed to sustainability if it talks about green goals but does little to change how it operates. A country might have a notionally free press if the law allows press freedom, yet strong pressure or control keeps the media from acting freely. In both cases, the official position sounds real, but the practical reality is weaker.
The word often carries a slight tone of doubt or criticism. If you say someone was notionally in charge, you usually mean that the person had the title or formal role but did not have much real power. In the same way, a notionally independent group may appear separate on paper while still being controlled from outside.
In formal writing, the word is often used to separate a legal, official, or theoretical status from the facts on the ground. It is useful when something counts in principle but not fully in practice. Whenever you see "notionally," think of a label that is officially there, even if the real substance behind it is limited.
Examples
- 1
Official hours
The office is notionally open until six, but most staff leave by five.
- 2
Administrative structure
The two departments are notionally separate, though they share the same manager and budget.
- 3
Assigned responsibility
Each member is notionally responsible for one region, but everyone helps when problems come in.
- 4
Budget planning
The budget was notionally divided among the three projects before the final costs were known.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Estimated value
The shares were notionally worth $10,000, but nobody was willing to buy them at that price.
See also
Similar
- theoretically
- in principle
- nominally
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- notionally independent
- notionally assigned
- notionally worth
Word family
Explore
- theory versus practice
- legal fiction
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- notionallyadverb