Denotation Examples
- The boy was pushy. (He was literally pushing people.)
- She was cold. (She was cold in temperature.)
- It was too hard. (The object was too firm.)
- The dog is a mutt. (The dog is a mix of several breeds.)
- Trevor is a bull. (The bull is named Trevor.)
- The woman was frugal. (The woman is economical when spending money.)
- He was bull-headed. ...
Which is the best definition of denotation?
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Which sentence uses denotation?
Denotation Examples and Meaning
- Denotation: Literary Definition. The most common type of denotation that you’ll come across is in literature. ...
- Denotation in Literature. From poets to novelists, denotation is used all over the literary world. ...
- Other Denotation Examples. There are other literal meanings of words or phrases that can be denotations. ...
- Getting Literal With Denotation. ...
What words have the same denotation but different connotation?
Examples:
- Rose – A rose is a popular type of flower. ...
- Chick – We all know that a chick is a baby bird. ...
- Rock – If you take it literally, then it could generally mean a stone composed of some type of minerals. ...
- Home – A home may just be a structure built to place a roof on top of your head, but it’s also associated with the idea of family.
How to use "denotation" in a sentence?
Use “denotation” in a sentence | “denotation” sentence examples
- (1) But though the denotation of niubi is embarrassingly plain , it’s connotations are far from obvious.
- (2) Its denotation is a truth – value.
- (3) Conversely, the broader image ? ...
What is literary denotation?
Definition, Examples of Literary Denotation. Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. This can be examined in contrast to a word's connotation which is its implied meaning. A word's denotation is devoid of elements such as emotion or hidden meaning.
What is the example of Denotative sentence?
Example 1. For example, denotation of the word “blue” is the color blue, but its connotation is “sad”—read the following sentence: The blueberry is very blue. We understand this sentence by its denotative meaning—it describes the literal color of the fruit.
What are examples of denotation and connotation?
Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most words naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of a word that might be found in a dictionary. Cars of the 1960's Thunderbird, Falcon, Charger, Comet, Mustang, Barracuda.
What is denotation in a sentence?
Denotation sentence example The denotation of a word translates the word to its literal meaning. 268. 124. The word "dentist" has the denotation "man or woman who fixes teeth."
What is denotation in a poem?
Denotation is the literal definition of a word. It is the meaning that's most commonly found in dictionaries and other academic sources. Denotation is commonly paired with its opposite, connotation.
What is connotation and denotation in literature?
DENOTATION: The direct definition of the word that you find in the dictionary. CONNOTATION: The emotional suggestions of a word, that is not literal.
What is the denotation of sleek?
sleek, slick, glossy mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance. sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning.
What is the denotation of the crocodile?
Definition of crocodile 1a : any of several large, carnivorous, thick-skinned, long-bodied, aquatic reptiles (family Crocodylidae and especially genus Crocodylus) of tropical and subtropical waters that have a long, tapered, V-shaped snout broadly : crocodilian. b : the skin or hide of a crocodile.
What are two words that have the same denotation but different connotations?
For example, it would be wrong to say that the words "smile" and "smirk" have the same denotation but different connotations (with "smile" being positive and "smirk" negative). The definition of "smirk" is "a smug or conceited smile." The very definition of smirk—its denotation—is already negative.
What are denotation words?
Denotation is the objective meaning of a word. The term comes from the Latin word “denotationem,” meaning “indication.” The denotation of a word is its literal definition—its dictionary definition—and contains no emotion. This is in contrast to connotation, which is the subjective or associated meaning of a word.Sep 9, 2021
Which statement defines denotation?
Define: denotation. a word's literal meaning; its dictionary definition.
What is the denotation of dove?
1. : a small wild bird that is related to pigeons. ◊ Doves are often used as a symbol of peace. 2. : a person who does not want war and does want peace.
Why do writers use denotation?
Further, writers use denotation in the sense of choosing the right word for the right occasion. Writers pay close attention to the meaning of the words they use, so that they can be as precise, concrete, clear, and realistic as possible.
What is the meaning of denotation?
Here’s a quick and simple definition: Denotation is the literal meaning, or "dictionary definition," of a word. Denotation is defined in contrast to connotation, which is the array of emotions and ideas suggested by a word in addition to its dictionary definition. The words "house" and "home," for example, have the same denotation —a building ...
What does the denotation of a smile mean?
The word's denotation—a smug or conceited smile —doesn't make sense in the context of the rest of the sentence. A writer can vastly improve his or her writing by paying close attention to the denotations of words and choosing those that best capture what the writer is trying to explain or describe.
What does "father" mean in a sentence?
For instance, one person might hear the word "father" and experience a connotation of stern, unforgiving, and distant, while for a different person "father" might have a connotation of loving kindness. The connotation depends on each person's personal experiences. But the denotation of the word is the same for both people.
What is the denotation of figurative language?
All types of figurative language, like personification and metaphor, rely on the reader's understanding of both a word's explicit definition and the word's emotional and imaginative meaning —its connotation.
Does connotation affect the meaning of a word?
While it's true that connotation can add a positive, negative, or neutral spin to that word's denotation, the meaning of the word can certainly affect whether the word is positive or negative. For example, it would be wrong to say that the words "smile" and "smirk" have the same denotation but different connotations ...
Is a denotation the same as a positive?
The connotation depends on each person's personal experiences. But the denotation of the word is the same for both people. Denotations don't have to be neutral: Many websites describe denotations as being "neutral," in contrast to connotations which can be positive, negative, or neutral. This is a misconception.
What is a denotation in a dictionary?
In other words, denotation is a word’s “dictionary definition” rather than its associated emotion or definition. II. Examples of Denotation. As mentioned above, a word’s denotation is understood as in contrast with its connotation.
What is the meaning of denotation?
Denotation (pronounced dee-noh- tey -sh uh n) is a word’ or thing’s literal or main definition. The term comes from the late Latin Latin denotationem meaning “indication,” and is contrasted with connotation. A word’s denotation is completely absent of emotion, so it is defined as distinguished from its connotation (its associated meaning).
What is the denotation of the word "blue"?
For example, denotation of the word “blue” is the color blue, but its connotation is “sad”—read the following sentence: The blueberry is very blue. We understand this sentence by its denotative meaning—it describes the literal color of the fruit. In contrast, read the next sentence: Susie is very blue.
Why is denotation important?
Importance of Denotation. A word or phrase’s denotation is what we would find in the dictionary, so it is important for one main reason —it provides clear, literal definition. However, in literature and in everyday language, a word’s denotation is often less central than its universal connotation, which allows writers to be more creative ...
What is the denotative meaning of a philosophy?
Example 1. Philosophical works rely on the denotative meaning of words and phrases when defining principles, ethics, or moral law. When a philosopher presents a philosophy or principle, he asserts it in terms of what he knows or has decided to be true—he makes statements rather than suggestions.
What is the meaning of the daffodils in the poem "Beside the Lake"?
In the lines above, “golden daffodils,” and “beside the lake” are understood by their denotative meanings—the daffodils are flowers that are golden in color, and they are growing next to the lake.
Can Fletcher speak based on a lie?
So, Fletcher can only speak based on the denotative meanings of words. Liar Liar (4/9) Movie CLIP - The Pen Is Blue (1997) HD.
What is denotation in a sentence?
Denotation: Definition and Examples. Words can carry dozens of different meanings depending on how they’re used, their context, and with whom you’re speaking. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the connotation (implicit meaning) behind the words you choose. Sometimes, however, you might just be referring to a word’s literal ...
What does "denotation" mean?
A word’s denotation is usually the same as its definition in the dictionary. It does not reflect the emotions or cultural notions that we often attach to words; instead, it represents only the word’s explicit meaning. The word “hot,” for example, denotes a high degree of heat or a high temperature.
What does "something on your bosom" mean?
Here, “something on your bosom” denotes the letter “ A” for “adulterer” that Hester has been forced to wear on her chest. Figuratively, however, it also refers to the shame women are forced to feel by Puritan society for their sexuality.
Is a word neutral or positive?
In general, connotations are classified as positive, negative, or neutral. However, the denotation of a word is usually neutral, since it refers to its dictionary definition, and not to any cultural notions behind the word.
What is an example of denotation?
Example #1 Daffodils by William Wordsworth. This poem, which is also known as ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,’ provides readers with a great example of denotation. Within the lines of the text, the speaker describes the “golden daffodils” and how they were found “Beside the lake”.
Why do writers use denotation?
A writer might go against the denotative mining of a word in order to create something new or something that seems original. By using a word in contrast to its dictionary definition a reader should be caught off guard.
What is a connotation in writing?
Connotations are important in all forms of writing but mostly in fiction and poetry.
What is the meaning of connotation?
In contrast to denotation, connotation is the metaphorical or symbolic meaning of a word. It is not that which is found in a dictionary but that which often enters into one’s mind when the word is read or described. It is associated with figurative language and literary devices.
Definition of Denotation
Denotation is generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.
Denotation and Connotation
In literary works, we find it a common practice with writers to deviate from the dictionary meanings of words to create fresher ideas and images. Such deviations from the literal meanings are referred to as “ figurative language ,” or “literary devices,” e.g. metaphors, similes, personifications, hyperboles, understatements, paradoxes, and puns.
Function of Denotation
Readers are familiar with denotations of words but denotations are generally restricted meanings. Writers, therefore, deviate from the denotative meanings of words to create fresh ideas and images that add deeper levels of meanings to common and ordinary words.
DENOTATION DEFINITION
A denotation is a literal framing of a term or sign. Denotations have no subjective, symbolic or otherwise non-literal meaning. Take the term hot for example: the denotation of hot is having or giving off heat. Consequently, the connotation of hot could be used to suggest the attractiveness of a person.
DENOTATION DEFINITION BY CONTRAST
The biggest difference between connotation and denotation is that the former is non-literal and the latter is literal. Let’s take the word sick for example:
THE MEANING OF CONNOTATION IN ENGLISH
Every word has a denotation. Perhaps it might be helpful to think of denotations as the dictionary definition of terms. Take any word – let’s use “old” for example. The denotation of old is having existed for a long time. But old can sometimes carry a negative connotation – like if somebody says “shut up old man” in a condescending tone.
list of denotation examples
Denotation applies to cinema more than you might think. Of course it applies to the words used in dialogue, just like it does in writing, but it also applies to objects. There are many objects that have symbolic meaning – like crosses, hearts, and doves. These objects have literal meaning as signs, and symbolic meaning as icons.
THE MEANING OF denotation FOR ARTISTS
We use denotations every second of every day. Right now, you’re applying denotations to every word you’re reading. But it’s not always easy to recognize the denotation of a word due to the fact that some words with different meanings are spelt the same way. For example:
UP NEXT
We talked about a few ways connotation and denotation are different from each other but there’s a lot more to the former term. In this next article, we break down connotations in further detail, with examples from Romeo and Juliet, The Shape of Water and more.
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Denotation Definition
Denotation Examples
- Every single word in every language has a denotation. The examples of denotation in literature, speeches, and the speech of everyday life is therefore endless, but that also makes it hard to pick out one example from literature that better illustrates denotation than any other example. Instead of providing examples from literature, it's probably mo...
Why Writers Use Denotation
- Because denotation is a word's explicit meaning, writers can't help but use this literary term in their work. Denotation is everywhere language is! But writers still rely greatly on denotation as an anchor for their artistic choices. All types of figurative language, like personification and metaphor, rely on the reader's understanding of both a word's explicit definition and the word's e…
Other Helpful Denotation Resources
I. What Is denotation?
- Denotation (pronounced dee-noh-tey-shuh n) is a word’ or thing’s literal or main definition. The term comes from the late Latin Latin denotationemmeaning “indication,” and is contrasted with connotation. A word’s denotation is completely absent of emotion, so it is defined as distinguished from its connotation (its associated meaning). In other words, denotation is a wor…
III. Importance of Denotation
- A word or phrase’s denotation is what we would find in the dictionary, so it is important for one main reason—it provides clear, literal definition. However, in literature and in everyday language, a word’s denotation is often less central than its universal connotation, which allows writers to be more creative and expressive with their thoughts. If we only wrote using denotative meaning, all …
IV. Examples of Denotation in Literature
- Example 1
Philosophical works rely on the denotative meaning of words and phrases when defining principles, ethics, or moral law. When a philosopher presents a philosophy or principle, he asserts it in terms of what he knows or has decided to be true—he makes statements rather than sugge… - Example 2
Read the following selection from William Wordsworth’s well loved poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud: In the lines above, “golden daffodils,” and “beside the lake” are understood by their denotative meanings—the daffodils are flowers that are golden in color, and they are growing ne…
v. Examples of Denotation in Pop Culture
- Example 1
Denotation is particularly useful and well employed in things that require instruction or definition, for example, cooking shows, how-to videos, or “do-it-yourself” (DIY) blogs. Cooking shows rely on clear instructions, properly measured amounts, and specific ingredients for the success of their … - Example 2
In the comedy movie Liar Liar, the main character, Fletcher, is unable to tell a lie for 24 hours after his son’s birthday wish comes true. So, Fletcher can only speak based on the denotative meanings of words. Since Fletcher cannot lie, everything he says and every word that comes out of his mo…
VI. Related Terms
- Connotation
As outlined and exemplified above, a word’s connotation is its implied or associated meaning. It is distinguished from the word’s denotation in that it has either a positive negative feeling, while denotation’s purpose is to define without feeling.
VII. Conclusion
- In conclusion, denotation is valuable when you want to be clear and straightforward with the meaning of your words. It is the best way to choose your words when you want to be objective and informative, without creating other feelings or alternate meanings.