abstraction meaning and definition

ABSTRACTION noun

Definition of abstraction (noun)

1. a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
   • "he loved her only in the abstract--not in person"
   • synonyms: abstract
2. the act of withdrawing or removing something
3. the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances
   • synonyms: generalisation, generalization
4. an abstract painting
5. preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else
   • synonyms: abstractedness
6. a general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples
   • synonyms: abstract entity