Connotation and Denotation

Connotation and Denotation

Why do we need to know it? As we write we want to be aware that words have different shades of meaning. Therefore, we need to choose words that communicate our ideas effectively.

Connotation

Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word. In other words, the connotation of a word is how it makes you feel and what you think of when you see or hear that word.

Denotation

Denotation is the strict dictionary definition of the word.

Example

We drove back to the house.

We drove back home.

If you were to look up both house and home in the dictionary, you would find that both words have about the same meaning - "a dwelling place."

Example

We drove back to the house.

We drove back home.

However, home suggests an additional meaning.

Aside from the strict dictionary definition or denotation, many people associate comfort, love, security, or privacy with a home but do not necessarily make the same associations with a house.

Connotation

The various feelings, images, and memories that surround a word make up its connotation.

When we think of these words, we usually classify them as positive, negative, or neutral (neither positive nor negative).

Example

Think of the following words:

relaxed, inactive, lazy.

The denotation, or dictionary definition, is similar for all of the words. However, one has a negative connotation, one has a neutral connotation, and one has a positive connotation.

Multiple Choice

Which word has a more positive connotation?

• lazy

• relaxed

• inactive

Multiple Choice

Which word has a more negative connotation?

• lazy

• relaxed

• inactive

Multiple Choice

Which word has a neutral connotation? This means it isn't either positive or negative.

• lazy

• relaxed

• inactive

Practice

Let's practice determining whether a word has a positive, negative, or neutral connotation.

Multiple Choice

Which word has a positive connotation?

• odor

• smell

• fragrance

Multiple Choice

Which word has a negative connotation?

• gaze

• stare

• look

Multiple Choice

Which word has a neutral connotation (neither positive nor negative)

• laugh

• cackle

• giggle

Poll

How did you do?

Multiple Choice

Which word has the most negative connotation?

• sad

• crushed

• upset

Multiple Choice

Which word has the most positive connotation?

• strange

• weird

• unique

Multiple Choice

Which word has the most neutral connotation?

• vehicle

• classic

• wreck

Multiple Select

Choose all the words that have a positive connotation.

• sylish

• exciting

• fake

• peaceful

• boring

Multiple Select

Choose all the words that have a negative connotation.

• unfirendly

• warm

• terrifying

• rude

• courageous