Denotation and connotation: Literal and figurative meaning.

As we have seen, English language words can have different meanings depending on how they are used. This is called the 'literal meaning' of a word. Essentially, this is the 'factual', 'exact', or 'accurate' dictionary definition. This is also called the 'denotation; of the word, the 'sense', 'import', 'gist' (slang), 'significance', 'implication', or 'substance' of the meaning of the word.

However, English words (and sometimes expressions) often also have another type of meaning, called 'figurative meaning'. This is the 'symbolic' or 'abstract' meaning of the term. This is also called the 'connotation' of the word, meaning 'suggestion', 'implication', 'nuance', 'undertone', 'association', 'subtext', or 'overtone' of the meaning of the word.

For example, the emotions that are associated with a word are part of the connotation. For example, when two people are 'in love', the dictionary (denotation) definition is that these two people feel 'great affection for' each other.

Yet, as people who have experienced love, we know that love is one of the two things (besides money) that can drive people crazy (that is, make them do things they ordinarily would not do). Therefore, the denotation does not do the word justice. The connotation of the word involves the fact that people who are in love may well act differently, even if it merely means that their mood or the way they relate to the rest of the world is different.

Synonyms:

reference, extension, indication