Connotation
noun
An idea or feeling that a word makes you think about in addition to its main meaning.
The word 'home' has connotations of warmth and security.
Often appears as...
- positive connotation
- negative connotation
noun
The suggesting of a meaning by a word beyond what it explicitly denotes or describes.
In semantic analysis, connotation is just as important as denotation.
Often appears as...
- semantic connotation
- linguistic connotation
Usage tips
Academic
Academic
noun
An idea or feeling that a word makes you think about in addition to its main meaning.
The word 'home' has connotations of warmth and security.
Often appears as...
- positive connotation
- negative connotation
noun
The suggesting of a meaning by a word beyond what it explicitly denotes or describes.
In semantic analysis, connotation is just as important as denotation.
Often appears as...
- semantic connotation
- linguistic connotation
Usage tips
Academic
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Some words carry different connotations in various cultures, so be mindful of the audience.
The word 'thrifty' has a positive connotation of saving in some cultures, but may imply stinginess in others.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Connotation affects emotions; choose words that create the right feeling for your message.
Using 'slim' rather than 'skinny' has a more positive connotation.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Misinterpretation
Be clear with words having both negative and positive connotations to prevent misunderstanding.
'Childlike wonder' has a positive connotation, unlike 'childish behavior.'
Compare with
associationauraimplicationinferencenuancesuggestiontoneundertone
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Video examples
Art of the Matter PIPE Nat...
because we know best. But we don't know anything. And we don't have the humility to acknowledge that. So this particular work once again cast a light on, sort of, how the ecosystem, the Savannah, the grassland is an implicit part of a lion's soul. Soul is a very tricky term to use because it has religious connotations but like there is a larger sense of self and being
Video examples
The movement that...
depriving Andrea of her rights to equal protection under the law. However, while one of the three judges overseeing the case voted to spare Andrea, the other two did not. Records suggests it’s possible Andrea escaped the impending surgery, but many more victims of these policies did not. Although eugenics acquired negative connotations
Video examples
Face-to-Face with a Bear...
bears in these areas and this conflict is is coming up I don't like you using the word conflict I say in inverted commas just because I it's a quite a negative connotation but we're seeing it more and more right coexisting of humans and Wildlife is such a such a big thing but in terms of like the broader wider
Video examples
Our story of rape and...
and labels are a way to organize concepts, but they can also be dehumanizing in their connotations. Once someone's been deemed a victim, it's that much easier to file them away as someone damaged, dishonored, less than. And likewise, once someone has been branded a rapist,
Video examples
Morgan Spurlock: The...
Robert You know it's funny, because when I first hear it, it is the ultimate respect for an audience. I don't know how receptive people are going to be to it, though. Do you have a perspective -- I don't want to use "angle" because that has a negative connotation --
Video examples
The greatest TED Talk...
the ultimate respect for an audience I don't know how receptive people are going to be to it though you have a perspective or do you I don't want to use angle because that has sort of has a negative connotation but do you think that do you sort of know how this
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
meeting the writer halfway in the imaginative play of creating a dynamic world of the senses. So when you write, use well-chosen words to engage sound, sight, taste, touch, smell, and movement. Then create unexpected connotations among your story elements,
Video examples
Making wildlife a part...
searching for manyara games have a negative connotation because they can addictive just a small percentage of those billions could get addicted to wildlife lastly we used real data as the final
Video examples
Nick Veasey: Exposing...
It has human connotations. The fact that it's a child's toy that we all recognize, but also it looks like it's a robot, and it comes from a sci-fi genus. It's a surprise that it has humanity,
Video examples
Everything you hear on...
industrial sounds often carry negative connotations. Now, sound effects can tap into our emotional memory. Occasionally, they can be so significant that they become a character in a movie.
Video examples
Art of the Matter PIPE Nat...
because we know best. But we don't know anything. And we don't have the humility to acknowledge that. So this particular work once again cast a light on, sort of, how the ecosystem, the Savannah, the grassland is an implicit part of a lion's soul. Soul is a very tricky term to use because it has religious connotations but like there is a larger sense of self and being
Video examples
The movement that...
depriving Andrea of her rights to equal protection under the law. However, while one of the three judges overseeing the case voted to spare Andrea, the other two did not. Records suggests it’s possible Andrea escaped the impending surgery, but many more victims of these policies did not. Although eugenics acquired negative connotations
Video examples
Face-to-Face with a Bear...
bears in these areas and this conflict is is coming up I don't like you using the word conflict I say in inverted commas just because I it's a quite a negative connotation but we're seeing it more and more right coexisting of humans and Wildlife is such a such a big thing but in terms of like the broader wider
Video examples
Our story of rape and...
and labels are a way to organize concepts, but they can also be dehumanizing in their connotations. Once someone's been deemed a victim, it's that much easier to file them away as someone damaged, dishonored, less than. And likewise, once someone has been branded a rapist,
Video examples
Morgan Spurlock: The...
Robert You know it's funny, because when I first hear it, it is the ultimate respect for an audience. I don't know how receptive people are going to be to it, though. Do you have a perspective -- I don't want to use "angle" because that has a negative connotation --
Video examples
The greatest TED Talk...
the ultimate respect for an audience I don't know how receptive people are going to be to it though you have a perspective or do you I don't want to use angle because that has sort of has a negative connotation but do you think that do you sort of know how this
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
meeting the writer halfway in the imaginative play of creating a dynamic world of the senses. So when you write, use well-chosen words to engage sound, sight, taste, touch, smell, and movement. Then create unexpected connotations among your story elements,
Video examples
Making wildlife a part...
searching for manyara games have a negative connotation because they can addictive just a small percentage of those billions could get addicted to wildlife lastly we used real data as the final
Video examples
Nick Veasey: Exposing...
It has human connotations. The fact that it's a child's toy that we all recognize, but also it looks like it's a robot, and it comes from a sci-fi genus. It's a surprise that it has humanity,
Video examples
Everything you hear on...
industrial sounds often carry negative connotations. Now, sound effects can tap into our emotional memory. Occasionally, they can be so significant that they become a character in a movie.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Dinesh Paliwal
Indian Businessman
To most people, paranoia carries a negative connotation. I believe it is one of the most valuable attributes a leader can have. It is about self-reflection and having the courage, humility, and discipline to constantly ask uncomfortable questions that can potentially poke holes in your strategy and challenge your conventional thinking.
Quote examples
Jacob Collier
English Musician
The way my brain works, it created me thirsty. From the off, I was a sponge for information that had emotional connotations, I think that was it. I was brought up to see the world as emotional, and anything that I could get my hands on that helped me explore that emotional stuff, I was fascinated by.
Quote examples
Grace Helbig
American Comedian
I had this idea that being an introvert was a negative thing, that it had a negative connotation, and I really wanted, as a young person, to strive to be the life of the party and to be really outgoing and to have a million friends. And then I realized that an introvert isn't a negative.
Quote examples
Susan Hill
English Author
Love has an enormous number of connotations, and if somebody is a person who does kind acts as a way of life, if they are generally disposed to being caring and loving and doing things for other people, then kindness is a much stronger word than we make it out to be.
Quote examples
Malachi Kirby
English Actor
There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment exists many places around the world - in England, in the U.S., everywhere.
Quote examples
Billy Squier
American Musician
Take 'The Stroke,' for instance. Plenty of people saw sexual connotations in that song but to me it was about what goes on in the business world.
Quote examples
Michael Scheuer
American Public Servant
Without the connotation good or bad, bin Laden's a great man in the sense that he's influenced the course of history.
Quote examples
Grace Chatto
British Musician
When something sounds good, I don't think any of the connotations matter.
Quote examples
Abdolkarim Soroush
Iranian Philosopher
Compromise has a negative connotation.
Quote examples
Glenn Close
American Actress
Diva has a negative connotation.
Quote examples
Dinesh Paliwal
Indian Businessman
To most people, paranoia carries a negative connotation. I believe it is one of the most valuable attributes a leader can have. It is about self-reflection and having the courage, humility, and discipline to constantly ask uncomfortable questions that can potentially poke holes in your strategy and challenge your conventional thinking.
Quote examples
Jacob Collier
English Musician
The way my brain works, it created me thirsty. From the off, I was a sponge for information that had emotional connotations, I think that was it. I was brought up to see the world as emotional, and anything that I could get my hands on that helped me explore that emotional stuff, I was fascinated by.
Quote examples
Grace Helbig
American Comedian
I had this idea that being an introvert was a negative thing, that it had a negative connotation, and I really wanted, as a young person, to strive to be the life of the party and to be really outgoing and to have a million friends. And then I realized that an introvert isn't a negative.
Quote examples
Susan Hill
English Author
Love has an enormous number of connotations, and if somebody is a person who does kind acts as a way of life, if they are generally disposed to being caring and loving and doing things for other people, then kindness is a much stronger word than we make it out to be.
Quote examples
Malachi Kirby
English Actor
There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment exists many places around the world - in England, in the U.S., everywhere.
Quote examples
Billy Squier
American Musician
Take 'The Stroke,' for instance. Plenty of people saw sexual connotations in that song but to me it was about what goes on in the business world.
Quote examples
Michael Scheuer
American Public Servant
Without the connotation good or bad, bin Laden's a great man in the sense that he's influenced the course of history.
Quote examples
Grace Chatto
British Musician
When something sounds good, I don't think any of the connotations matter.
Quote examples
Abdolkarim Soroush
Iranian Philosopher
Compromise has a negative connotation.
Quote examples
Glenn Close
American Actress
Diva has a negative connotation.
Example 1 of 10
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