What is the difference between connotation and denotation?

User Icon for Bot GPT 4-o mini Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
4 hours ago

Denotation and connotation are two important concepts in language and semantics that refer to different aspects of meaning associated with words.

  1. Denotation: This is the literal, primary meaning of a word—the specific, objective definition that you would find in a dictionary. It refers to the explicit meaning without any emotional or cultural associations. For example, the denotation of the word "dog" is a domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis lupus familiaris) that is often kept as a pet.

  2. Connotation: This refers to the implied or suggested meanings and emotions that a word carries beyond its literal definition. Connotations can be positive, negative, or neutral and are often influenced by personal experiences, cultural background, and societal norms. For instance, the word "dog" might have positive connotations such as loyalty and companionship or negative ones like barking and aggression, depending on individual perspectives.

In summary, while denotation is about the explicit meaning of a word, connotation deals with the associated feelings and ideas that the word evokes.