Editing Connotation (section)

{{Short description|Cultural or emotional association}}
{{for|the technical term in semiotics|connotation (semiotics)}}{{redirect|Connote|Connote number|Waybill}}
A '''connotation''' is a commonly understood [[culture|cultural]] or [[emotional]] association that any given [[word]] or [[phrase]] carries, in addition to its explicit or [[Literal and figurative language|literal]] [[meaning (philosophy of language)|meaning]], which is its [[denotation]].

A connotation is frequently described as either positive or negative, with regard to its pleasing or displeasing emotional connection.<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter A. White|title=Psychological Metaphysics|chapter=Feelings and JEA Sequences|date=27 March 2017|page=315|publisher=Routledge |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCWEDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT315|isbn=978-1315473550}}</ref> For example, a stubborn person may be described as being either ''strong-willed'' or ''pig-headed''; although these have the same literal meaning (''stubborn''), ''strong-willed'' connotes [[admiration]] for the level of someone's will (a positive connotation), while ''pig-headed'' connotes frustration in dealing with someone (a negative connotation).