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denotative

American  
[dee-noh-tey-tiv, dih-noh-tuh-tiv] / ˈdi noʊˌteɪ tɪv, dɪˈnoʊ tə tɪv /

adjective

  1. having power to denote.

  2. denoting or tending to denote.

    the denotative meaning of a word.


denotative British  
/ dɪˈnəʊtətɪv /

adjective

  1. able to denote; designative

  2. explicit; overt

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of denotative

1605–15; < Latin dēnotātus (past participle of dēnotāre to mark out, denote ( def. ) ) + -ive

Vocabulary lists containing denotative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The denotative meanings of these abbreviations vary over a wide range.

From The Guardian Jun. 6, 2013

From this eternal word, which is of the nature of the sphota and possesses denotative power, there is produced the object denoted, i.e. this world which consists of actions, agents, and results of action.

From The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya Sacred Books of the East, Volume 1 by George Thibaut

It finds that "reality" is a denotative term, a word used to designate indifferently everything that happens.

From Creative Intelligence Essays in the Pragmatic Attitude by Boyd H. Bode

This method of delimiting a meaning by calling out a certain attitude toward objects may be called denotative or indicative.

From How We Think by John Dewey

The only way in which the term reality can ever become more than a blanket denotative term is through recourse to specific events in all their diversity and thatness.

From Creative Intelligence Essays in the Pragmatic Attitude by Boyd H. Bode

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