What does the term connotation refer to?

Connotation refers to the emotional association or the implied meaning that a word carries beyond its literal definition. This encompasses the feelings, ideas, or attitudes that a word suggests in addition to its explicit meaning. For example, the word “home” connotes warmth, safety, and comfort, while the word “house” is more neutral and simply refers to a physical structure. Understanding connotation is crucial in communication, as it affects how messages are received and interpreted by others. The richness of language lies not only in the words we choose but also in the emotional context that those words evoke, making connotation an essential aspect of effective communication and literary analysis.