Meaning & use
connotation
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Meaning
nouncountable
A feeling, image, or idea that a word brings to mind in addition to its basic literal meaning.
Grammar: Often plural when talking about associations, and followed by of or for: a connotation of luxury.
Patterns
- a connotation of something
- have positive connotations
- carry a connotation
The word cheap has a negative connotation, while the word affordable sounds positive.
For many people, the word home has warm connotations.
The brand wanted a name with a connotation of speed.
Word forms
| plural | connotations |
|---|
Common combinations
- negative connotation
- The word stubborn has a negative connotation.
- positive connotation
- Slim has a more positive connotation than skinny.
- carry connotations
- The term carries connotations of danger.
- cultural connotation
- Colors have different cultural connotations around the world.
- emotional connotation
- The song has a strong emotional connotation for him.
- have connotations of
- The word fortress has connotations of strength.
Synonyms and how they differ
- association
- Association is any link in the mind between two things, while connotation is limited to ideas attached to a word.
- overtone
- Overtone is a hint of an additional meaning, usually less fixed than a connotation.
- implication
- Implication is something suggested by a statement or action, whereas connotation belongs to the word itself.
- nuance
- Nuance is a subtle difference in meaning or tone, while connotation is the emotional color of a word.
Opposites
Word family
- connote verb
- to suggest a meaning beyond the literal one
- connotative adjective
- suggesting additional meanings
- denotation noun
- the literal meaning of a word
- denote verb
- to mean literally
Commonly confused: connotation or denotation? connotation or connection?
connotation vs denotation
Denotation is the exact dictionary meaning of a word, while connotation is the feeling attached to it.
connotation vs connection
A connection is a link between things, but a connotation belongs only to the meaning of words.
Practice
The words thrifty and stingy mean almost the same, but stingy has a negative ____.
Choose one answer.
Connotation is the feeling attached to a word beyond its basic meaning. Denotation would be the same for both words, so it does not explain the difference.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “connotation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.