Connotation and Denotation Created by Kathryn Reilly

Connotation vs. Denotation Background Connotation and denotation both refer to how people interpret word meanings. Connotation derives from the verb connote, which means to suggest meaning. Denotation derives from the verb denote, which means to designate meaning.

Connotation Connotation refers to a word’s secondary meaning as determined by group or society. This secondary meaning may not appear in a dictionary. Connotative meanings usually result from emotional associations. Example: Home may connotatively refer to a place where a person feels most safe, rather than a structure where one lives. I feel most at home in Ireland, the land of my ancestors.

Denotation Denotation refers to a word’s meaning as defined in a dictionary. A denotative meaning is the generally accepted academic meaning of a word. Example: Home denotatively means a place where a person resides. In recent months, home prices continued to increase.

Examples Word: Monkey – Connotative: Stop monkeying around! Connotatively, monkey refers to messing around. – Denotative: Monkeys are my favorite part of the zoo. Denotatively, monkey refers to a primate. Word: Blue – Connotative: I’m feeling very blue today. Connotatively, blue refers to feeling sad. – Denotative: I love the deep blues of the ocean. Denotatively, blue refers to a primary color.

The Trick Here’s a trick to remember the difference between connotation and denotation: Denotation is the Dictionary’s meaning.