Connotative definition | Dictionary.com

con⋅no⋅ta⋅tion

[kon-uh-tey-shuh

–noun

1.	an act or instance of connoting.

2.	the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of warmth, comfort, and affection.” Compare denotation (def. 1).

3.	Logic. the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term and thus determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied; comprehension; intension.

Origin:
1375–1425 for earlier sense; 1525–35 for current senses; late ME connotacion < ML connotātiōn- (s. of connotātiō), equiv. to connotāt(us) (ptp. of connotāre to connote; see -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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con·no·ta·tion (kŏn'ə-tā'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.

The act or process of connoting.
1. An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: Hollywood holds connotations of romance and glittering success.
2. The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning.
Logic The set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term; intension.

con'no·ta'tive adj., con'no·ta'tive·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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