The words connote and denote both describe the relationships between words and their meanings. But they each describe a different kind of meaning.
Words denote what they “refer to,” “represent,” or “point to”; the object of the verb denote is a referent, or denotation. Words may also connote some emotional or social value; often, words simply have “positive connotations” or “negative connotations.”
For example, the words note, message, missive, and communique all denote the same thing—a message; but note is a casual word, implying a message of not of great importance or seriousness. For example, you should not declare war with a note. Communique, in contrast, connotes the most seriousness; one expects a communique to come from the government, not a friend. Message and missive are in-between.
For another example, the words cottage and hovel both denote very small homes, but the word cottage has positive connotations, while the word hovel has negative connotations. The same building could be a cottage or a hovel, but cottage implies attractive and comfortable while hovel implies low-status, in bad condition, and ugly.
How to Use "Connote" in a Sentence
- Connotation can be positive or negative and can have a significant impact on the meaning of a word or phrase.
- Words can have multiple connotations, depending on the context in which they are used.
- In order to use a word effectively, it is important to understand its connotations, not just its literal meaning.
- The word 'family' connotes different things for different people. Some people think of their family as a group of people who are related to them by blood, while others think of their family as the people who have been there for them throughout their lives.
- A person’s is wealth may be connoted by their clothing.
- The word 'home' tends to have a positive connotation, while the word 'house' has a more neutral connotation.
- Unfortunately, the word 'work' has negative connotations for many people, as it is associated with long hours, stress, and a lack of autonomy.
- 'Money' has both positive and negative connotations, since it is associated with both security and greed.
How to Use "Denote" in a Sentence
- The color red is often used to denote danger.
- In writing, denotation is essential for conveying the precise meaning of a word or phrase.
- The denotative meaning of the word is "the meaning of a word as stated by its dictionary definition."
- Whether it is defining terms, providing notes about specific points in a text, or simply clarifying semantics, understanding the denotations of your words is a basic part of clear and effective writing.
- Words can have multiple denotations, which always presents challenges to anyone learning a new language.
- It is important to be aware of a word's denotation when using it in conversation or writing, so that you are not misunderstanding the intended meaning.
- The denotation of a word is its literal meaning, and the connotation is the emotional association that a word has.