What is denotation?

1. a direct comparison that does not use like or as
2. the literal meaning of a word
3. the feeling or idea that a word suggests
4. words and phrases that have a meaning different from their literal meaning

1 answer

Denotation refers to 2. the literal meaning of a word. It is the explicit definition or reference of a term, as opposed to its connotations or the feelings and ideas that it may suggest.