connotation

American  

[kon-uh-tey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn əˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• connotations
  plural

1. 1. the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning.

      A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of warmth, comfort, and affection.”

   2. the act of connoting; the suggesting of an additional meaning for a word or expression, apart from its explicit meaning.

   Synonyms:

   import, implication, undertone

2. something suggested or implied by a word or thing, rather than being explicitly named or described.

   “Religion” has always had a negative connotation for me.

3. Logic. the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term and thus determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied; comprehension; intension.

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connotation British  

/ ˈkɒnəˌteɪtɪv, ˌkɒnəˈteɪʃən, kəˈnəʊtə- /

noun

1. an association or idea suggested by a word or phrase; implication

2. the act or fact of connoting

3. logic another name for intension

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connotation Cultural  

1. The meaning that a word suggests or implies. A connotation includes the emotions or associations that surround a word. For example, the word modern strictly means “belonging to recent times,” but the word's connotations can include such notions as “new, up to date, experimental.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• connotative
  adjective
• connotive
  adjective
• nonconnotative
  adjective
• unconnotative
  adjective
• connotatively
  adverb
• connotively
  adverb
• nonconnotatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• connotations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of connotation

First recorded 1375–1425, for an earlier sense, 1525–35 for current senses; late Middle English connotacion, from Medieval Latin connotātiōn-, stem of connotātiō “a noting, marking with,” equivalent to connotāt(us) “marked with” (past participle of connotāre “to note in addition to, mark along with”; see connote) + -iō -ion

Explanation

When you're talking about the implied subtext of words rather than their literal meaning, reach for the noun connotation. A political boss might not want to be called "boss" because of the negative connotations. From the Latin com- "with" + notare "to mark," this word is all about reading between the lines. The literal meaning (or denotation) of Wall Street, for instance, is "a street in lower Manhattan that's home to many financial institutions," but the same phrase's connotations may include "wealth," "power," or "greed," depending on your experiences and opinions. A closely related word is implication.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

connotation connotations

But another connotation of a family fight is that the argument stays behind closed doors and outsiders really don’t know what the issues are, Englander noted.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

In so much of modern cinema, “fun” has replaced “safe,” a new adjective with a better connotation meant to save middling films from themselves.

From Salon ● May 27, 2026

But Vladimir Yavachev, Christo's nephew and now director for the artists' estate following their deaths, said the barrels were not developed with "any connotation to the oil industry or criticism".

From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026

"I started having a negative connotation doing anything towards him."

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2025

"Project Elrond" had taken on a dark connotation throughout the Space Center, veiled in secrecy.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

“The horse elevates the art; symbolically, it carries connotations of elegance and nobility,” González said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Comey has said he did not realize that “86,” a slang term for getting rid of something, had violent connotations.

From Slate ● May 1, 2026

But she added that she is aware the term has taken on some negative connotations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

Its romantic connotations, however, were believed to have been influenced by the dining culture of the early 1900s.

From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026

Weid, a word meaning to see, with later connotations of wisdom and wit, entered Germanic as witan, and Old English wis to “wisdom.”

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

• meaning
• overtone
• significance
• undertone