1. Denotation and Connotation
The Meanings of Words
Denotation and Connotation

2. Denotation
The strict dictionary meaning of a word

3. Connotation
The emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word

4. Denotation vs. Connotation
Denotation is the dictionary or literal meaning of a word.
Connotative words imply emotions.
Plump = a full, round.
Fat = While similar in meaning to plump,
it has a very harsh and mean tone.

5. Word Choice You may live in a house, but we live in a home.
The connotation in this sentence is that a “home” is much more than merely the structure of a house.

6. The connotation of a word is often either positive or negative
We bought inexpensive souvenirs at the amusement park.
Negative
We bought cheap souvenirs at the amusement park.

7. Which word has a positive connotation and which has a negative one?
Everyone had a smirk on his/her face on the ride home.
Everyone had a smile on his/her face on the way home.
positive

8. Connotation: Negative
I ate a soggy sandwich.

9. Another example… You look a little odd today.
You look really weird today.
Which one do think has a stronger, more negative feel to it?

10. Which word has a positive connotation? You Decide!
average mediocre
childish childlike
spit saliva
antique old-fashioned

11. Connotation Opposite of Denotation Implied Meaning
May be Favorable or unfavorable

12. Which words have negative connotations? You Decide!
1. The (odor, fragrance) of apple blossoms filled the entire valley.
2. A (swarm, bunch) of bees filled the air near the hive.

13. Tone = Emotion
The tone of the words is what evokes a certain emotion.

14. Let’s Play...
Word Choice

15. Word Choice Positive Viewpoint Negative Viewpoint 100 100 200 200 300

16. Positive Connotation
immature
youthful
Back to Game

17. Positive Connotation
limit
restrict
Back to Game

18. Positive Viewpoint
filthy
dirty
Back to Game

19. Negative Viewpoint
stingy
thrifty
Back to Game

20. Negative Viewpoint
cluttered
messy
Back to Game

21. Negative Viewpoint
unusual
weird
Back to Game

22. Well Done!

23. Activity
For this assignment you will need a dictionary and a thesaurus. Here are the steps to follow:
Look up two different words of your choice in the thesaurus.
Under each, locate four synonyms that you like.
Write down the denotation of the five words in the group (should be the same denotation for all five).
Give the connotation of each word in the group. (Each one should differ slightly.)

24. WORDS: fat, obese, plump, large, stout
DENOTATION: being overweight or too heavy for your size.
CONNOTATION:
fat:
a greasy, flesh way, lack of self control
obese:
clinical word, grossly overweight
plump:
pleasantly overweight, a bit round and cute.
large:
heavy, but also have a bigger frame than average; more flattering word than others
stout:
bulky and strong, like a football lineman

25. Let’s use the word HOT The denotation (or dictionary definition – remember d in denotation = dictionary) of HOT is: having a temperature higher than that of a human body.
However, when you say “Man! He/She is hot!”, are you saying “Man! He is having a temperature higher than that of a human body!”? No!!
You are saying the CONNOTATION of HOT – which could mean a variety of things – man he/she is cute, attractive, beautiful, and many other meanings – those come from personal experiences and cultural meanings, etc.