Denotation vs connotation: which statement is true?

• A. Denotation is literal meaning, Connotation is emotional associations
• B. Denotation is emotional associations, Connotation is literal meaning
• C. They are interchangeable
• D. They are identical

Answer: (A)

The difference between denotation and connotation lies in how a word carries meaning. Denotation is the literal, dictionary meaning—the explicit content you’d find in a definition. Connotation is the array of emotions, associations, and cultural shades that a word evokes beyond its literal sense. So the statement that is true is that a word’s denotation is its literal meaning, while its connotation consists of emotional associations. For example, the word home denotates the place where one lives, but it connotes warmth, safety, and family. These two aspects are distinct, and they’re not interchangeable or identical.