denotation

noun

ˌdē-nō-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce denotation (audio)
Definition of denotationnext
1
as in moniker
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known "soul" is the common denotation for that mysterious force within the human body that gives it life and yet is separate from it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in meaning
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action although most people exercise for fitness, the denotation of the term "fitness" varies from exerciser to exerciser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of denotation Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed during the denotation on July 19 at Erbil Air Base. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Controlled denotations were conducted Sunday at the site to dispose of hazardous materials, the agency said. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025 How much control, at this point, the subcommittee can exert over emoji denotation and connotation isn’t clear. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025 But the New Zealand Department of Conservation lists the reptiles as at risk — relict, a denotation reserved for species that declined to a small population but have since stabilized. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2024 Cleverly staging appearance as disappearance, connotation serves as denotation. — Jerrine Tan, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denotation
  1. moniker
  2. meaning
  3. nomenclature
  4. sense
  5. name
  6. significance
  7. title
  8. content
Noun
  • Such is the same case for N3on, the digital moniker of 21-year-old Mikyle Rafiq.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Beta has put in the legwork, sourcing enlightening testimony from figures including Maupin and Alice’s great-nephew Steven Ellison, better known by his producer-musician moniker, Flying Lotus.
    — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of moniker
Noun
  • That changes the meaning of time in ways that are easy to underestimate.
    — Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • How will the tightly knotted structure of the grammar and syntax loosen into meaning?
    — Sabrina Jaszi, The Dial, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of meaning
Noun
  • Public-health officials coined a nonjudgmental nomenclature that persists to this day.
    — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • In professional nomenclature, these conditions are known as anxiety disorders.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 30 July 2026
Definition of nomenclature
Noun
  • Because of its garden, this is the kind of getaway with quiet outdoor spaces where that makes perfect sense.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Away back along the old sewer bank, the old place is anything like home either, now creating a deeper sense of loss for the supporters.
    — Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • But most new shows aren’t The Shards, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’s 2023 autofiction novel of the same name.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • So the professional bodybuilder, now 39, started putting some of his savings into popular US tech stocks — names like Google, Apple and Nvidia.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of name
Noun
  • City staff are balancing the bar’s cultural and historical significance with concerns raised by the Los Angeles Unified School District and residents about parking, noise, traffic and public safety.
    — Isaac Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Jim Beam was tapping into that because there’s a cultural significance to football.
    — Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of significance
Noun
  • Slot won the Premier League title in his first season as Liverpool manager.
    — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The tour, which began in 1999, showcases Slamdance titles to different audiences around the country, expanding their reach beyond the traditional film hubs of Los Angeles and New York.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of title
Noun
  • Gastélum posted similar content on his Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube accounts, which together had more than 1 million followers.
    — Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Features like autoplay, infinite scroll and algorithmic content recommendations have been the prime targets of legal arguments that social media platforms are designed to be addictive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of content

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denotation
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Cite this Entry

“Denotation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denotation. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on denotation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about denotation

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