Connotation

Definition of Connotation
Connotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it
describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings in addition
to their literal meanings or denotations. For instance, “Wall Street” literally means a street
situated in Lower Manhattan but connotatively it refers to “wealth” and “power”.

Positive and Negative Connotations

Words may have positive or negative connotations that depend upon the social, cultural and
personal experiences of individuals. For example, the words childish, childlike and youthful
have the same denotative but different connotative meanings. Childish and childlike have a
negative connotation as they refer to immature behavior of a person. Whereas, youthful
implies that a person is lively and energetic.

Common Examples of Connotation

Below are a few connotation examples. Their suggested meanings are shaped by cultural and
emotional associations:

 A dog connotes shamelessness or an ugly face.

 A dove implies peace or gentility.
 Home suggests family, comfort and security.
 Politician has a negative connotation of wickedness and insincerity while statesperson
connotes sincerity.
 Pushy refers to someone loud-mouthed and irritating.
 Mom and Dad when used in place of mother and father connote loving parents.

Examples of Connotation in Literature

In literature, it is a common practice among writers to deviate from the literal meanings of
words in order to create novel ideas. Figures of speech frequently employed by writers are
examples of such deviations.

Example #1

Metaphors are words that connote meanings that go beyond their literal meanings.
Shakespeare in his Sonnet 18 says:

“Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day”

Here, the phrase “a Summer’s Day” implies the fairness of his beloved. Similarly, John
Donne says in his poem “The Sun Rising”:

“She is all states, and all princes, I.”

This line suggests the speaker’s belief that he and his beloved are wealthier than all the states,
kingdoms, and rulers in the whole world because of their love.

Example #2

Irony and satire exhibit connotative meanings, as the intended meanings of words are
opposite to their literal meanings. For example, we see a sarcastic remark passed by Antonio
on Shylock, the Jew, in William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice”:

“Hie thee, gentle Jew.

The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.”

The word “Jew” has a negative connotation of wickedness, while “Christian” demonstrates
positive connotations of kindness.

Example #3

George Orwell’s allegorical novel “Animal Farm” is packed with examples of connotation.
The actions of the animals on the farm illustrate the greed and corruption that arose after the
Communist Revolution of Russia. The pigs in the novel connote wicked and powerful people
who can change the ideology of a society. In addition, Mr. Jones (the owner of the farm),
represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; and Boxer, the horse, represents the laborer class
etc.

Example #4

Metonymy is another figure of speech that makes use of connotative or suggested meanings,
as it describes a thing by mentioning something else with which it is closely connected. For
example, Mark Anthony in Act III of Shakespeare’s “Julies Caesar” says, “Friends, Romans,
countrymen, lend me your ears.” Here the word “ear” connotes the idea of people listening to
him attentively.

Read the following lines form Robert Frost’s poem “Out, Out”:

“As he swung toward them holding up the hand

Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling”

In the line “The life from spilling” the word “life” connotes “blood”. It does make sense as
well because loss of blood may cause loss of life.

Example #5

Connotation provides the basis for symbolic meanings of words because symbolic meanings
of objects are different from their literal sense. Look at the following lines from
Shakespeare’s play “As you Like It”:

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,”

“A stage” connotes the world; “players” suggests human beings; and “parts” implies different
stages of their lives.

Function of Connotation
In literature, connotation paves way for creativity by using figures of speech like metaphor,
simile, symbolism, personification etc. Had writers contented themselves with only the literal
meanings, there would have been no way to compare abstract ideas to concrete concepts in
order to give readers a better understanding .Therefore, connotative meanings of words allow
writers to add to their works, dimensions which are broader, more vivid and fresher.

Words with similar dictionary meanings often have different connotations, so it is very
important for a writer to choose words carefully. Consider the following table. Each row
contains a list of words with similar dictionary meanings but different shades of feeling.

Favorable Neutral Unfavorable

1. relaxed inactive lazy

2. prudent timid cowardly

3. modest shy mousy

4. time-tested old out-of-date

5. dignified reserved stiff-necked

6. persevering persistent stubborn

7. up-to-date new newfangled

8. thrifty conservative miserly

9. self-confident proud conceited

10. inquisitive curious nosy

More on connotations...
Each of the following sentences includes a pair of words with similar dictionary definitions but
different connotations. One of the words is more appropriate based on the context of the sentence.
That word appears in the right-hand column.

Appropriate
Sentence Examples
Word Choice

As snakes continue to grow, they (junk, shed) the

protective keratinous layer on the surface of their shed
bodies because it does not expand.

Oblivious to those around him, the father tenderly

(smiled, smirked) at his newborn baby through the smiled
window of the hospital nursery.

During rush hour traffic in a metropolis, cars creep along

speeds
at agonizingly slow (velocities, speeds).

Even the coolest star in the night skies is unbelievably

hot
(sultry, hot) according to astronomers.

The local newspaper's front-page story indicated that

$50,000 was (stolen, pilfered) from the town's largest stolen
bank during the night.

The pack of wild horses (loped, sprinted) alongside the

sprinted
train at top speed for more than 200 yards.

Although many Americans purchase meat at their local

grocery stores, some farmers still (butcher, execute) butcher
livestock to feed their families.

The French are (noted, notorious) for their fine food. notorious