connotation

connotation — noun

1. the extra associations, emotions, or implied meanings that a word carries on top

1.名詞B2
釋義

the extra associations, emotions, or implied meanings that a word carries on top of its basic meaning, or what an object, colour, or situation indirectly suggests

例句

The word 'home' has warm connotations of family and comfort for most people.

collocation: warm connotations

In many cultures, the colour white has connotations of purity and new beginnings.

pattern: connotation + of + noun phrase

同義詞
  • overtone

    suggests a more subtle or secondary quality, common in artistic or emotional contexts ('political overtones')

  • association

    broader term for any mental link, not limited to language; can be personal rather than shared

  • implication

    more logical and direct than connotation; something a speaker intentionally suggests

  • undertone

    implies a hidden quality beneath the surface, often of emotion or attitude

反義詞
  • denotation

    the literal, dictionary meaning of a word — the opposite of the extra suggested meaning

文法句型

connotation + of + noun phrase

have/carry + adjective + connotations

take on connotations

用法筆記

Connotation is often paired with modifiers such as 'positive', 'negative', 'cultural', or 'emotional' to specify the kind of association. The word 'denotation' refers to the literal dictionary meaning — 'connotation' covers only the extra suggested layer of meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The connotation of this word is small.
✅This word has negative connotations.
💡Connotation is not an evaluation itself; it refers to the associations a word carries. Use 'has … connotations' or 'carries connotations of …'.