The Online Scholar Institute

✅ Denotation

Definition:
Denotation is the literal, dictionary definition of a word — its explicit, objective meaning, without any emotional or cultural associations.

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✅ Example:

• Word: Snake
• Denotation: A legless, cold-blooded reptile.
• Connotation (for comparison): Danger, betrayal, deceit (e.g., “He’s such a snake.”)

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So if someone says,

“The snake slithered across the path,”
they’re using the denotation — they mean an actual reptile.

So there you have it! Now go ahead and use denotation in your CXC prep/ CSEC prep.

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