denotation

American  

[dee-noh-tey-shuhn] / ˌdi noʊˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. the act or fact of denoting; indication.

4. something that denotes; mark; symbol.

5. Logic.

   1. the class of particulars to which a term is applicable.

   2. that which is represented by a sign.

---

denotation British  

/ ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of denoting; indication

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

3. 1. something designated or referred to Compare referent connotation

   2. another name for extension

---

denotation Cultural  

1. 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.

---

Etymology

Origin of denotation

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

Example Sentences

But then we bring grammar and syntax and diction and meaning making and connotation and denotation, we take the ocean of sign system and make it into sentences and words, meanings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2022

They have the denotation level, which is what they mean in the dictionary sense.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2022

Diverse, however, has positive connotations in this same context, despite its neutral denotation of “varied.”

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

If you have not thought much about iambs and trochees, or denotation and connotation, or synecdoche and metonymy in recent years, you are in for a day tripper’s version of literary spelunking.

From New York Times • Jul. 26, 2011

Hence, as practical men, we become interested in the denotation more than in the description, since the denotation decides as to the truth or falsehood of so many statements in which the description occurs.

From Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays by Russell, Bertrand