Pronunciation: [kˈɒnsɛpt] (IPA) 
The word "concept" is spelled with four letters, C-O-N-C-E-P-T, and is pronounced as /kɒnˈsɛpt/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable "con" is pronounced with a short "o" sound /kɒn/. The second syllable "cept" is pronounced with a short "e" sound /sɛpt/. The stress is on the first syllable, making it the emphasized part of the word. "Concept" is a commonly used word to describe an idea, thought or notion.
Concept refers to an abstract or general idea or notion that represents a category or class of things, events, or phenomena. It is derived from the Latin word "conceptus," which means "something conceived" or "a thought." A concept is a mental construct that allows individuals to comprehend or perceive the world around them. It serves as a cognitive framework for understanding and organizing information, facilitating communication and knowledge acquisition.
Concepts often involve a level of abstraction, as they are typically conceived to capture essential or characteristic features shared by multiple instances or examples. They can be concrete or tangible, such as objects, animals, or locations, or abstract and intangible, such as love, justice, or democracy. Concepts enable individuals to categorize and classify objects or ideas based on their similarities and differences, thereby simplifying complex realities.
Importantly, concepts are not static but can evolve, expand, and vary across cultures, contexts, and disciplines. They can be influenced by social, cultural, and historical factors, creating different interpretations and understandings. Concepts are usually represented through language, using words or symbols that convey their meaning. They provide a means of communication and shared understanding among individuals, allowing for the transmission and preservation of knowledge across generations.
In summary, a concept is an abstract or general idea that acts as a mental framework for understanding and categorizing the world. It enables individuals to organize and communicate knowledge and plays a central role in human cognition and learning.
An abstract idea or notion.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Object conceived by the mind; mental representation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "concept" originated from the Latin word "conceptus", which is the past participle of the verb "concipere". "Concipere" is a combination of the prefix "con-" (meaning "together" or "completely") and the verb "capere" (meaning "to take" or "to seize"). Therefore, the literal meaning of "conceptus" is "something taken or seized together", referring to the act of comprehending or grasping something mentally. This Latin root eventually evolved into the Old French word "conceit" and then into the Middle French word "concept", which became the source for the English word "concept" that we use today.
