connote

[ kuh-noht ]

verb (used with object)

, con·not·ed, con·not·ing.

1. to signify or suggest (certain meanings, ideas, etc.) in addition to the explicit or primary meaning:

   The word “fireplace” often connotes hospitality, warm comfort, etc.

   Synonyms: imply, intimate

2. to involve as a condition or accompaniment:

   Injury connotes pain.

verb (used without object)

, con·not·ed, con·not·ing.

1. to have significance only by association, as with another word:

   Adjectives can only connote, nouns can denote.

connote

/ kɒˈnəʊt /

verb

1. (of a word, phrase, etc) to imply or suggest (associations or ideas) other than the literal meaning

   the word "maiden" connotes modesty

2. to involve as a consequence or condition

Word History and Origins

Origin of connote¹

1645–55; < Medieval Latin connotāre, equivalent to Latin con- con- + notāre to note

Word History and Origins

Origin of connote¹

C17: from Medieval Latin connotāre, from notāre to mark, make a note, from nota mark, sign, note

Example Sentences

“According to court records, he said he had used the term to connote ‘a person who is fearless, mentally strong and tough,’ in the same vein that players themselves used the term in referring to one another,” James wrote, along with co-author Buzz Bissinger, in a book excerpt that appeared in Vanity Fair in 2009.

From Los Angeles Times

She used it for emphasis, to connote dismissiveness and to demonstrate exasperation.

From New York Times

It appears Trump perceives sadness or depression as emotional conditions that connote weakness; in his effort to make the record show instead that he was doing the opposite of what a beta male would do, he is obligated to say that instead of not eating, he was eating all sorts of things, probably including steaks, big hamburgers, bacon, and parts of a used muffler.

From Slate

Twitter was a good name, even if the site didn’t connote positive things for many people.

From Slate

Indian, for example, is a historical reference used to connote barbarism to justify enslaving Indigenous people during the colonial era — settlers equated it to savagery while seizing more land and federal policies invoked it as a racist concept in the 19th century, Ellis said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• hint at
• signify