connotation

American  

[kon-uh-tey-shuhn] / ˌkɒn əˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

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

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

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

United's official LGBTQ+ fans group Rainbow Devils said it welcomed Fletcher's apology and that "homophobic language has no place in football or society regardless of intention or connotation".

From BBC • Mar. 4, 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

While taking on more than $100,000 in debt can have a negative connotation, at the time it may have seemed like a sound financial decision.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

Even in 2005, the words “Brokeback Mountain” had an instant connotation, different from person to person.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2025

In Nahuatl, the words almost shimmer with connotation: what was true was well grounded, stable and immutable, enduring above all.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• meaning
• overtone
• significance
• undertone