denotive

9.2

Relating to a word's direct, literal meaning

adjective
/dɪˈnoʊtɪv/

: denotativo

The denotive meaning of the word is its direct, explicit definition.

Examples

Poetry tends to exploit both the denotive and connotative aspects of words.
In legal documents, the language is often carefully denotive to avoid ambiguity.
The word 'dog' has a denotive meaning.
In linguistics, a denotive term is essential.
The denotive meaning of 'tree' refers specifically to the woody perennial plant.
In a dictionary, each word is defined with its denotive meaning to help users understand its basic sense.
In academic writing, the author used denotive language to ensure clarity and precision in her arguments.

Synonyms

denotative

vsdenotive

7.5

A basic, exact meaning of a word without feelings or personal ideas

has identical meaning but uses an alternate adjective form

Antonyms

connotative

1 7.4

Suggesting extra ideas or feelings beyond the main meaning

How Denotative

explicit

142 4.8

denotive

9.2

suggestive

18 5.2

figurative

9 6.4

Surface Forms

denotive positive

Morphology

denotive = denote (transparent) = denote + ive

Formed regularly from the verb 'denote' with the productive adjectival suffix '-ive', so the meaning relating to denotation is directly predictable.

Etymology

Denotive comes from the verb denote, which goes back to a root nota meaning 'mark' and is the same idea you see in the English word note. So something denotive points to the 'direct' or 'marked' meaning of a word, not the feelings or ideas around it.