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.

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Other Word Forms

• denotatively adverb
• denotativeness noun
• nondenotative adjective
• nondenotatively adverb
• undenotative adjective
• undenotatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of denotative

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

Example Sentences

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

From The Guardian • Jun. 6, 2013

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 Dewey, John

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 Bode, Boyd H.

To use the phraseology of Harvard and Radcliffe, the Sulphite is connotative, the Bromide denotative.

From Are You a Bromide? The Sulphitic Theory Expounded and Exemplified According to the Most Recent Researches into the Psychology of Boredom Including Many Well-Known Bromidioms Now in Use by Burgess, Gelett

Words are thus acknowledged to be denotative of themselves.

From A History of Indian Philosophy, Volume 1 by Dasgupta, Surendranath