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Denotation means what?

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Anonymous

8y ago
Updated: 2/20/2022

Denotation is when you use the definitions found in the dictionary. These definitions are generally neutral, and don't tell you much more than that. Connotation involves carefully considering the use of the word in a sensitive manner so that others (cultures, people, etc.) are not harmed by your words; the connotation involves the emotions the word brings up in that culture.

For example: take the word "fat." The dictionary meaning, the denotation, is "overweight." But in our culture, if I said someone was fat, that might hurt their feelings or get them upset, because our culture values being thin. All words have a denotation. But many words also have a certain connotation to them, based on whether the culture gives them a positive or a negative meaning.

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Eriberto Mohr

Lvl 10
3y ago

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Related Questions

What is the Latin root of 'denotation'?

De- and notare are the Latin roots of 'denotation'. The prefix 'de-' means 'from'. The infinitive 'notare' means 'to distinguish, mark'.


What does denotation mean in art?

Denotation generally means WHAT you see (literally) as opposed to Connotation, which refers to how does it affect you, cause you to think or react, etc.


Sentences for the word denotation?

The assignment given to the class was to study the denotation of the sentences as a whole. Another example: In the study of language, all words have a denotation (a dictionary meaning) but some also have a connotation (what the word means in the culture, the emotions the word can evoke).


What is the denotation of Hawaii?

Denotation is a dictionary definition, so a denotation of Hawaii could be "a group of islands in the pacific"


What is a sentence for denotation?

Denotation is a word that is used to describe indication of a process through reference to a word or a symbol. A sentence with the word denotation would be, "Besides there varied denotations, the artists found a point of agreement."


What is the denotation of sequence?

the denotation of sequence is put in order


What is the verb for denotation?

The verb for denotation is "denote."


What is the dictionary meaning or denotation of the word crusty?

Crusty means having a hard outer layer.


What are some examples of a denotation?

'Wind' is the denotation of natural air movement 'Poodle' is the denotation of a particular breed of dog.


What rhymes with nation and means mean?

This may be one of these words:connotation/denotation - the contextual meaning/ the literal meaning


What is denotation when is it used?

Denotation is the definition of a word. The denotation of a word is exactly what the definition is, in the literal sense. The reason this word is used instead of 'definition', is because of the existence of "connotation", which is the emotion surrounding the word and what the average person would take it to mean. For example, the word "argumentative" literally means 'having a tendency to argue', but when a person is called "argumentative" it is seen as an insult and puts them in a negative light. Denotation does not have any emotion in it, good or bad. Therefore, denotation is the strict definition, and connotation is the definition based on how a person would take the word in question to mean.


The difference between denotation and connotation?

Denotation is the definition of a word according to a dictionary. Connotation is the definition of a word depending on the context in which it is being used. Such as, the word "cool". Cool means something that is somewhere between hot and cold. But in the sentence' "Man that is cool!", it means that something is nice or advantageous. This would be the connotative meaning.