Denotative and Connotative Meanings

Although some words may be considered to have similar meanings, they cannot be substituted for one anothel without changing the message. Words with similar meanings have similar denotations . Often, however, words with a similar denotation do not have the same connotations. “Denote implies all that strictly belongs to the definition of the word, connote aU of the ideas that are suggested by the term; thus, ‘home’ denotes the place where one lives with one’s family, but it usually connotes comfort, intimacy, and privac:. The same implications distinguish denotation and connotation .‘I* The denotation of a word is its dictionary definition, which is what the word “stands for.” A word’s connotation is what the word suggests, or what we associate the word with, that goes beyond its formal definitions. The word house and home both refer to a building or structure in which people live; these words have, then, the same denotation. But the word home , for most people, suggests or is associated with concepts and feelings of family and security. Thus, the word home has a strong, and generally positive, connotation. The word house though, has little, if any, connotative significance. House brings to mind a picture of a physical structure but little else because house does not carry any “emotional baggage.” House is likely to suggest only a residential structure or building, home to add connotations of the warmth of family life over a long period. The difference in meaning between these two words can be seen from the following lines: