connotation
nounUK /ˌkɒnəˈteɪʃən/ · US /ˌkɑnəˈteɪʃən/
Etymology Borrowed from Medieval Latin connotātiō, from connotō (“to mark in addition”), from Latin con- (“together, with”) + notō (“to note”); equivalent to connote + -ation.
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences, Semantics A meaning of a word or phrase that is suggested or implied, as opposed to a denotation, or literal meaning. A characteristic of words or phrases, or of the contexts that words and phrases are used in.
- The word "advisedly" has a connotation of "wisely", although it denotes merely "intentionally" and "deliberately."
- The word "happy" has a positive connotation, while "sad" has a negative connotation.
2
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences The attribute or aggregate of attributes connoted by a term, contrasted with denotation.
- The two expressions "the morning star" and "the evening star" have different connotations but the same denotation (i.e. the planet Venus).
- Synonyms
- intent
- Antonyms
- denotation
- Derived terms
- connotational, connotationless
- Related terms
- connotate, connotative, connote, subtext