What is Denotation?
Denotation (pronounced dee-noh-tey-shuh n) is a word’ or thing’s literal or main definition. The term comes from the late Latin Latin denotationem meaning “indication,” and is contrasted with connotation. A word’s denotation is completely absent of emotion, so it is defined as distinguished from its connotation (its associated meaning). In other words, denotation is a word’s “dictionary definition” rather than its associated emotion or definition.
Example
For example, denotation of the word “blue” is the color blue, but its connotation is “sad”—read the following sentence:
The blueberry is very blue.
We understand this sentence by its denotative meaning—it describes the literal color of the fruit. In contrast, read the next sentence:
Susie is very blue.
If we understand this second sentence by its denotative meaning, it would mean that Susie is literally the color blue. However, we understand this sentence by its connotative meaning, which is that Susie is sad.
What is Conotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Example
- Bedford is a gritty neighborhood, but the rents are low.
- On my flight to Los Angeles, I sat next to this babe. She was absolutely stunning.
- Every morning my neighbor takes his mutt to the park. It always barks loudly when leaving the building.
- You need to be pushy when you are looking for a job.
- Bob is bullheaded sometimes, but he always gets the job done.
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