emotive meaning

American  

noun

1. the emotional connotation of a word or expression that is used instead of one having a similar meaning but less affective quality, as the connotation of “murder” when used instead of “homicide” or “drunk” instead of “inebriated.”

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Etymology

Origin of emotive meaning

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Thibodeau interprets in “a deaf-centric way,” making a combination of morphological, syntactic and emotive meaning with her face that could only come from a lifetime of practice.

From New York Times