Motion vs. Notion: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Motion refers to the action or process of moving or being moved, while a notion is an idea, belief, or opinion.
Key Differences
Motion is a physical phenomenon, describing movement or the process of changing position or place. In contrast, a notion is a concept or thought, representing an individual's idea or opinion about something.
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The study of motion is a fundamental part of physics, dealing with the dynamics of objects. Notion, however, is more abstract, often used in philosophy and psychology to describe a person's understanding or belief.
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In legal and parliamentary language, a motion refers to a formal proposal or suggestion put forward for debate or decision. In contrast, a notion in a similar context might refer to the underlying idea or belief motivating such a proposal.
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Motion can also imply a gesture or signal made by the hand, body, or head. On the other hand, a notion is purely mental and does not involve any physical movement.
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Technologically, motion can be captured and analyzed, as in motion capture technology used in filmmaking and gaming. Notions, being intangible and subjective, are not directly measurable or observable in the same way.
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Comparison Chart
In Legal/Parliamentary Context
Formal proposal or suggestion
Underlying idea or belief
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Motion and Notion Definitions
Motion
Motion is the action or process of moving or being moved.
The dancer's graceful motion captivated the audience.
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Notion
Notion can also mean a whimsical or fanciful idea.
He always had some new notion for a business venture.
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Motion
In physics, motion refers to the change in position of an object over time.
The professor explained the laws of motion using a pendulum.
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Notion
A notion is a conception or belief about something.
She had a notion that the test would be postponed.
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Motion
A motion can be a formal proposal made in a parliamentary or legal context.
The senator introduced a motion to amend the bill.
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Notion
In philosophy, a notion is an abstract idea or a theoretical understanding.
The book delved into the notion of existentialism.
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Motion
In mechanics, motion describes the movement of machinery or parts.
The intricate motion of the clock's gears was fascinating.
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Notion
Notion sometimes refers to a personal inclination or whim.
On a sudden notion, she decided to take a day trip to the beach.
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Notion
A notion can represent a vague or slight understanding of something.
He had only a basic notion of how the engine worked.
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Motion
A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture.
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Notion
A belief or opinion
Had an old-fashioned notion of what qualities were most important in a mate.
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Notion
A mental image; an idea or conception
Do you have any notion of what I'm referring to?.
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Notion
An impulse or whim
I suddenly had the notion of walking by the river.
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Notion
Notions Small lightweight items for household use, such as needles, buttons, and thread.
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Motion
A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination
Resigned of her own motion.
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Notion
Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept.
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Notion
(colloquial) An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack.
Yankee notions
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Motion
A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism.
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Notion
Any small article used in sewing and haberdashery, either for attachment to garments or as a tool, such as a button, zipper, or thimble.
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Notion
(colloquial) Inclination; intention; disposition.
I have a notion' to do it.
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Notion
Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea; a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as distinguishable or definable by marks or notæ.
What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume under the notion of principles.
Few agree in their notions about these words.
That notion of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear which is in the mind, is called the "idea" of hunger, cold, etc.
Notion, again, signifies either the act of apprehending, signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities afford, or the result of that act.
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Notion
A sentiment; an opinion.
The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves.
A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity.
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Notion
An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack; as, Yankee notions.
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Notion
Miscellaneous small objects; sundries; - usually referring to articles displayed together for sale.
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Notion
A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
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Motion
(countable) A parliamentary action to propose something. A similar procedure in any official or business meeting.
The motion to amend is now open for discussion.
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Notion
An odd or fanciful or capricious idea;
The theatrical notion of disguise is associated with disaster in his stories
He had a whimsy about flying to the moon
Whimsy can be humorous to someone with time to enjoy it
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Motion
(philosophy) from κίνησις (kinesis); any change. Traditionally of four types: generation and corruption, alteration, augmentation and diminution, and change of place.
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Notion
(usually plural) small personal articles or clothing or sewing items;
Buttons and needles are notions
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Motion
Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
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Motion
(law) A formal request, oral or written, made to a judge or court of law to obtain an official court ruling or order for a legal action to be taken by, or on behalf of, the movant.
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Motion
(euphemistic) A movement of the bowels; the product of such movement.
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Motion
(music) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. (Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is when parts move in the same direction.)
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Motion
(mechanical engineering) A piece of moving mechanism, such as on a steam locomotive.
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Motion
To gesture indicating a desired movement.
He motioned for me to come closer.
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Motion
The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; - opposed to rest.
Speaking or mute, all comeliness and graceattends thee, and each word, each motion, forms.
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Motion
Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east.
In our proper motion we ascend.
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Motion
Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts.
This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion.
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Motion
Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.
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Motion
A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn.
Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
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Motion
An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
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Motion
Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts.
The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.
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Motion
To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat.
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Motion
To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head; as, to motion one to a seat.
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Motion
A natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
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Motion
The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
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Motion
A change of position that does not entail a change of location;
The reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
Movement is a sign of life
An impatient move of his hand
Gastrointestinal motility
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Motion
A formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote;
He made a motion to adjourn
She called for the question
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Motion
The act of changing location from one place to another;
Police controlled the motion of the crowd
The movement of people from the farms to the cities
His move put him directly in my path
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Motion
An optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object;
The cinema relies on apparent motion
The succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement
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Motion
Show, express or direct through movement;
He gestured his desire to leave
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Motion
Motion also refers to a gesture or action.
With a motion of his hand, he signaled them to stop.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does motion mean in physics?
In physics, motion refers to the change in position of an object over time.
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Can motion be observed directly?
Yes, motion can be observed as the physical movement of objects.
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What is a motion in a meeting or assembly?
In this context, a motion is a formal proposal put forward for discussion or voting.
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How is motion measured?
Motion is measured in terms of velocity, speed, and acceleration.
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Can a notion be proven wrong?
Yes, a notion can be proven wrong if it is based on incorrect information or assumptions.
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How is notion used in everyday language?
A notion typically refers to an idea, belief, or opinion.
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Are notions always based on facts?
Notions can be based on facts, but they can also be subjective or speculative.
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Do notions influence behavior?
Yes, notions or beliefs can significantly influence a person's behavior and decisions.
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What is an example of motion in nature?
The orbiting of planets around the sun is an example of motion in nature.
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Is motion always visible?
No, some motions, like molecular or atomic movements, are not visible to the naked eye.
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Is a notion always conscious?
Not necessarily; some notions can be subconscious or intuitive.
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How do notions affect learning?
Notions can shape how individuals perceive and process information, impacting learning.
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Can notions be culturally influenced?
Yes, notions are often shaped by cultural, social, and environmental factors.
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Can motion occur in space?
Yes, motion occurs in space, such as the movement of celestial bodies.
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Are notions subjective?
Yes, notions are often subjective, reflecting personal views, experiences, and beliefs.
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What is perpetual motion?
Perpetual motion is the hypothetical concept of an object moving endlessly without external energy.
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What role do notions play in philosophy?
In philosophy, notions are central to understanding abstract concepts and theories.
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What is relative motion?
Relative motion refers to the movement of an object in relation to another object's position.
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Can notions change over time?
Yes, notions can evolve or change as new information is acquired or perspectives shift.
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Can motion be simulated in technology?
Yes, motion can be simulated in various technologies, like computer animations and simulations.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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