denotation
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for denotation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of representing something, or a sign that stands for it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The act of representing something, or a sign that stands for it.
2. noun
The exact, literal meaning of a word or symbol, rather than any feeling or idea it suggests.
“The denotations of the two expressions "the morning star" and "the evening star" are the same (i.e. both expressions denote the planet Venus), but their connotations are different.”
Opposites
Etymology
Taken from Late Latin dēnotātiō, from Latin dēnotāre ("to denote, mark out") + -tiō (a suffix forming nouns of action), itself from dē- ("completely") + notāre ("to mark"); equivalent to denote + -ation.
Full origin of denotation →