meditational

Meditational is an adjective describing things connected with the practice of meditation or intended to induce meditative states. It is used to label practices, works, or objects—such as meditational exercises, meditational music, or meditational poetry—that aim to promote contemplation, concentration, or inner attention.

Etymology and usage notes: the term is formed from the verb meditate with the suffix -ational. It is closely related to the more common adjective meditativ(e); in modern English, meditational is less widely used and may appear mainly in older texts, academic writing, or specific catalogs and titles. In contemporary usage, meditational material often overlaps with, but can be distinguished from, meditative material, which emphasizes the quality of inducing contemplation rather than the process itself.

Contexts and examples: meditational concepts appear across religious and philosophical traditions that emphasize internal focus, such as Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian contemplative practices, as well as secular mindfulness programs. In culture and arts, the label can describe music, poetry, visual art, or theater crafted to invite stillness, reflection, or heightened awareness. In scholarly works, meditational approaches may be discussed in relation to therapy, pedagogy, or ritual studies as methods or forms designed to cultivate inner attention.

See also: meditation, meditative, contemplative practice, mindfulness.