connotations
connotations — noun
- connotationssingular
- connotationsesplural
1. A connotation is an additional feeling, image, or idea that a word brings to min
A connotation is an additional feeling, image, or idea that a word brings to mind beyond its basic dictionary meaning. For example, the word 'home' suggests warmth and security to most people, while 'house' simply names a type of building.
Tomás did not realise that the word 'thrifty' has positive connotations in American English.
positive/negative connotations of a word
The old factory had dark connotations for the children, who told ghost stories about it.
connotations of [quality/feeling]
When choosing a brand name, companies study the cultural connotations of each colour or symbol.
Saira chose the word 'slim' over 'skinny' because it has healthier connotations among her patients.
Rain on a tin roof carried warm connotations of Kofi's childhood at his uncle's farm.
- implication
focuses on what is indirectly suggested, often as a logical consequence — stronger than connotation
- overtone
a quality or attitude that accompanies something; often used in plural ('political overtones')
- association
a broader term for any mental connection; less precise than connotation for word meanings
- undertone
a hidden or underlying quality, especially of emotion, beneath the surface
- denotation
the literal primary meaning of a word, without any emotional or cultural associations
文法句型
connotation + of + noun phrase
have + connotations
carry + connotations
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'connotations' when referring to the range of associations a word or thing carries. Frequently followed by 'of' to specify the associated quality, as in 'connotations of danger' or 'connotations of wealth'. The singular 'connotation' is also common when referring to one specific association.