What Does Connotative Word Mean?

Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most words naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of a word that might be found in a dictionary.

What is an example of a connotative word?

A connotation is a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning (the denotation). … For example, “This clothing is affordable!” versus “This clothing is cheap!” Here, “affordable” sounds much better than “cheap,” because the word cheap also implies low quality.

What is a connotative meaning in a sentence?

Connotation is an idea or feeling that a word evokes. … If something has a positive connotation, it will evoke warm feelings. Meanwhile, something with a negative connotation will make someone feel less than pleasant.

What does denotative and connotative mean?

DENOTATION: The direct definition of the word that you find in the dictionary. CONNOTATION: The emotional suggestions of a word, that is not literal.

What is the connotation of house?

Many people would agree that home connotes a sense of belonging and comfort, whereas house conveys little more than a structure. … The connotation of a word depends on cultural context and personal associations, but the denotation of a word is its standardized meaning within the English language.

How do you teach connotations?

Choose a word which has a connotation which is significantly different from its literal meaning. For example, use the word “gray,” in reference to the color. Ask the student to look up the word in the dictionary. The dictionary definition will describe the color, most likely as a middle-ground between black and white.

Do all words have connotations?

All words have a denotation and connotation. The denotation refers to the most basic or specific meaning of a word. In contrast, a connotation is an idea that is suggested by or associated with a word.

What is the connotative meaning of child?

The word child usually carries a neutral connotation. The word brat usually carries a negative connotation. … For instance, depending on the context, the word child may have a negative—as opposed to a neutral—connotation (when being used to criticize an adult for behavior you consider to be immature, for example).

What is the connotation of school?

School is the place you go to learn, and the place you escape from when you play hooky. When you school someone, it means you’ve educated or put that person in his or her place. … The phrase “school of hard knocks” is slang for “rough experience in life.” School also refers to a large group of fish that swim together.

What is a good sentence for connotation?

To make her excuse sound better, Alexandra used a word with a positive connotation . By using a word with a negative connotation , Jenny’s graduation speech took an unpleasant tone. The word nasty has such a negative connotation ; you probably don’t want to use it when describing your sister-in-law.

What is an example of connotation in literature?

Connotation refers to an implied meaning that’s associated with a word in addition to its literal meaning. This association can be cultural or emotional. For example, the word “stingy” promotes a negative image.

Where do you find connotations?

The best way to find out the connotation of a word is to ask a lot of users. There are many questions about connotation on the Stack Exchange site, English Language and Usage. Everybody, The best way to figure out a word’s connotation is to view that word in its authentic environment.

What is connotative logic?

Logic. In logic and semantics, connotation is roughly synonymous with intension. Connotation is often contrasted with denotation, which is more or less synonymous with extension. … A word’s denotation is the collection of things it refers to; its connotation is what it implies about the things it is used to refer to.

What is the connotation of crocodile?

Crocodile symbolism and meanings include primordial wisdom, efficiency, stealth, and other powerful associations. Because crocodiles exist throughout the world, including the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia, they are the subject of mythology and folklore in many of these regions’ cultures.

Is a 17 year old a child?

In all 31 states, a minor is referred to as someone under the age of 18. Minors aged 16 or 17 who are charged with crimes could sometimes be treated as an adult.

What is the connotation of Sunrise?

1 : the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon also : the accompanying atmospheric effects. 2 : the time when the upper limb of the sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth.

How do words accumulate their connotations?

A word gains connotations through the way it’s used over time. Feelings and ideas are associated to a word based on the way or what circumstances it’s used in. The connotation of a word is what is suggested beyond its definition. Likewise, it’s the overtones that are heard beyond the pitch of a musical note.

What are positive connotations?

Positive connotations are associations that are good or affirmative and make one think and feel good things when reading those words. A word’s connotation can make the word feel positive or affirmative in the context it’s used.

What are negative connotations?

Negative connotation is the bad feeling or emotion that is attached to a word. Negative connotations can impact the meaning of a word. For example, the words stubborn and persistent have similar denotations, or dictionary meanings, but the word stubborn has a negative connotation attached to it.

What is connotation example?

Connotation is the use of a word to suggest a different association than its literal meaning, which is known as denotation. For example, blue is a color, but it is also a word used to describe a feeling of sadness, as in: “She’s feeling blue.” Connotations can be either positive, negative, or neutral.

What are two words that have the same denotation but different connotations?

For example, it would be wrong to say that the words “smile” and “smirk” have the same denotation but different connotations (with “smile” being positive and “smirk” negative). The definition of “smirk” is “a smug or conceited smile.” The very definition of smirk—its denotation—is already negative.

What is the connotation of mother?

This definition applies equally well to mothers in all cultures, at all places, and at all times. By contrast, the connotative meaning of ‘mother’ is flexible; it is all the different associations people have with the word – such as ‘care’, ‘warmth‘, ‘confidence’, and ‘age’ – in a specific situation and social context.


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