Denotations and ConnotationsDenotation

A word’s denotation is its literal meaning – that is, the definition you find in a dictionary.

Connotation A word’s

connotation is the feelings and ideas associated with a word.

Denotation and Connotation Using a thesaurus, you

can find words that have similar denotations but different connotations.

For example: If you looked up the word smile in a thesaurus, you would likely find the vocabulary word smirk listed as a synonym. Smile and smirk have similar denotations but different connotations.

Smile suggests happiness, while smirk suggests a smugness (an offensive self-satisfaction)

When someone smiles at us, we have a happy emotion. Happy emotions are positive, so the word smile has a positive connotation.

When someone smirks at us, we have a sad or maybe a mad emotion. Sad or mad emotions are negative, so the word smirk has a negative connotation.

Denotation and ConnotationOther examples: Slim and Skinny both relate to being

thin in size. However, slim has a positive connotation while skinny has a negative connotation.

Slim reminds me of someone that is fit and trim. While Skinny reminds me of someone that is undernourished.