Language Features

DENOTATION &
CONNOTATION
A Crash Course
Contents
1 Introduction

2 Denotations

3 Connotations

4 Differences and examples

 Learning Objectives

Select appropriate Explain the

words to convey difference in Select appropriate
particular connotations words to convey
denotations between words particular
with similar connotations.
denotations.
CONNOTATIONS
A definition
Words have two sorts of meaning: denotation and
connotation.

Denotation refers to the literal definition of a word – the

concept to which it refers (or the ‘dictionary’ definition of
a word).

Connotation, on the other hand, refers to the ideas or

feelings associated with a word. These might go beyond
the literal definition.
For example:
The words ‘house’ and ‘home’ have the same denotation but
the word ‘house' seems more neutral, whereas the word
'home’ has more emotional connotations. It evokes feelings
of warmth and safety and suggests ideas of family and
belonging.

In the same way, the words ‘animal’ and ‘beast’ refer to the
same type of creature but the word 'animal' seems more
neutral whereas the word 'beast' has connotations of
wildness and savagery.
Elements: