connotation

[ kon-uh-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. 1. the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning:

      A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of warmth, comfort, and affection.”

   2. the act of connoting; the suggesting of an additional meaning for a word or expression, apart from its explicit meaning.

   Synonyms: import, implication, undertone

2. something suggested or implied by a word or thing, rather than being explicitly named or described:

   “Religion” has always had a negative connotation for me.

3. Logic. the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term and thus determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied; comprehension; intension.

connotation

/ ˈkɒnəˌteɪtɪv; ˌkɒnəˈteɪʃən; kəˈnəʊtə- /

noun

1. an association or idea suggested by a word or phrase; implication
2. the act or fact of connoting
3. logic another name for intension

connotation

1. The meaning that a word suggests or implies. A connotation includes the emotions or associations that surround a word. For example, the word modern strictly means “belonging to recent times,” but the word's connotations can include such notions as “new, up to date, experimental.”

Derived Forms

• ˈconnoˌtatively, adverb
• connotative, adjective

Other Words From

• con·no·ta·tive [kon, -, uh, -tey-tiv, k, uh, -, noh, -t, uh, -], con·notive adjective
• conno·tative·ly con·notive·ly adverb
• non·conno·tative adjective
• non·conno·tative·ly adverb
• un·conno·tative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of connotation¹

First recorded 1375–1425, for an earlier sense, 1525–35 for current senses; late Middle English connotacion, from Medieval Latin connotātiōn-, stem of connotātiō “a noting, marking with,” equivalent to connotāt(us) “marked with” (past participle of connotāre “to note in addition to, mark along with”; connote ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The word “has a negative connotation in our popular lexicon; ‘natural’ has a positive connotation, when those words are not inherently negative or positive,” Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist and physician, told me.

From Slate

The word “has a negative connotation in our popular lexicon; ‘natural’ has a positive connotation, when those words are not inherently negative or positive,” Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist and physician, told me.

From Slate

There could be the connotation that you’re a little less mature, but honestly?

From Los Angeles Times

The term "bureaucrat" has held a negative connotation pretty much since it was invented, especially when applied to governments.

From Salon

“Descriptors such as ‘outgoing’ and ‘sociable’ may be perceived as having a more positive connotation than terms we use to describe introversion,” Singhal tells me.

From Slate

Related Words

• meaning
• overtone
• significance
• undertone