connotation
- An idea or feeling that a word evokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
In a sentence
- The word 'home' has warmer connotations than 'house', even though both refer to a place where people live.
- Politicians choose their words carefully, aware that certain terms carry negative connotations for some voters.
Usage note. Contrast 'connotation' (the emotional or cultural associations of a word) with 'denotation' (its precise dictionary definition); this distinction is central to literary analysis and rhetoric.
Where it comes from
English connotation · entered English 17th c.
From Medieval Latin 'connotatio', derived from 'connotare' meaning 'to mark along with', composed of 'con-' (together with) + 'notare' (to note or mark). The word entered English in the 17th century in logical and philosophical contexts before passing into general linguistic use.