denotation

[ dee-noh-tey-shuhn ]

/ ˌdi noʊˈteɪ ʃən /

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noun

the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of personal experience.

a word that names or signifies something specific: “Wind” is the denotation for air in natural motion. “Poodle” is the denotation for a certain breed of dog.

the act or fact of denoting; indication.

something that denotes; mark; symbol.

Logic.

the class of particulars to which a term is applicable.
that which is represented by a sign.

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Compare connotation.

Origin of denotation

1525–35; <Latin dēnotātiōn- (stem of dēnotātiō) a marking out, equivalent to dēnotāt(us) (past participle of dēnotāre;see denote) + -iōn--ion

Words nearby denotation

denomination, denominational, denominationalism, denominative, denominator, denotation, denotative, denote, denotive, denouement, denounce

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use denotation in a sentence

You’ll find circles, as in denotations for birdies, under holes No.
Justin Rose, with a back nine out of a dream, races to a four-shot lead at the Masters|Chuck Culpepper, Scott Allen, Des Bieler|April 9, 2021|Washington Post
To fix the connotation of a concrete name, or the denotation of the corresponding abstract, is to define the name.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
The denotation of this eery evil tread of ruined lives grated terribly on Lem's highly tensioned nerves.
The Red Debt|Everett MacDonald
It is common to distinguish two aspects, meaning and denotation, such phrases as "the author of Waverley."
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays|Bertrand Russell

For if the denotation alone were relevant, any other phrase with the same denotation would give the same proposition.
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays|Bertrand Russell
A second reason is that propositions concerning "the so-and-so" are possible even when "the so-and-so" has no denotation.
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays|Bertrand Russell

British Dictionary definitions for denotation

denotation

/ (ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən) /

noun

the act or process of denoting; indication

a particular meaning, esp one given explicitly rather than by suggestion

something designated or referred toCompare referent, connotation
another name for extension (def. 11)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for denotation

denotation

[ (dee-noh-tay-shuhn) ]

The basic dictionary meaning of a word, without its connotations. For example, the denotation of the word modern is “belonging to recent times,” although the word may have different connotations.

denotation

Origin of denotation

Words nearby denotation

Words related to denotation

How to use denotation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for denotation

Cultural definitions for denotation