denote

American  

[dih-noht] / dɪˈnoʊt /

verb (used with object)

denoted, denoting

1. to be a mark or sign of; indicate.

   A fever often denotes an infection.

   Synonyms:

   evidence, signify, signal, mark

2. to be a name or designation for; mean.

3. to represent by a symbol, or to be a symbol for.

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denote British  

/ dɪˈnəʊt /

verb

1. to be a sign, symbol, or symptom of; indicate or designate

2. (of words, phrases, expressions, etc) to have as a literal or obvious meaning

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Other Word Forms

• denotable adjective
• denotement noun
• undenotable adjective

Etymology

Origin of denote

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French dénoter, Latin dēnotāre “to mark out,” equivalent to dē- de- + notāre “to mark”; note

Compare meaning

How does denote compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• denote vs. connote

Example Sentences

It can be be used to denote the southern extent of the aurora.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

As part of her quest to revive N|uu, she and her granddaughter, Claudia Snyman, established a school for the language, which uses special characters in script to denote the verbal clicks.

From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025

There aren’t even historical markers to denote the significance of those city lots.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

Inside were the numerous trade certificates he’d earned over the years, along with letters of recommendation and business receipts, which he kept in neat stacks held together by different colored binders to denote the month.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2024

I use the term racial caste in this book the way it is used in common parlance to denote a stigmatized racial group locked into an inferior position by law and custom.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• stand for