The literal, dictionary definition of a word, stripped of any emotional or cultural associations.
Denotation is what a word means on paper - its straightforward, objective definition. "Snake" denotes a legless reptile. That's it. No symbolism, no creepiness, no metaphor for betrayal. Denotation is the factual foundation that connotation builds on. Understanding denotation matters because you need to know what a word literally means before you can play with what it implies.
If you don't nail denotation, your connotations won't land. Using a word incorrectly - even slightly - breaks reader trust. When you know the precise literal meaning of your words, you can layer emotional and thematic weight on a solid foundation. Denotation is the bones; connotation is the flesh.
Johnson's 1755 dictionary was one of the first major attempts to pin down English denotations, but even he couldn't resist sneaking connotation into entries like his famous definition of "oats."
Meursault's flat, denotative narration - reporting facts without emotional coloring - creates the novel's unsettling detachment. The absence of connotation becomes the point.
Hemingway's dialogue sticks close to denotation on the surface while the characters' real meanings - their connotations - churn underneath. The gap between what's said and what's meant drives the entire story.
Denotation is what the dictionary says. Connotation is what your gut says. "Cheap" and "affordable" denote similar things but connote very different judgments.
"Bemused" doesn't mean "amused." "Nonplussed" doesn't mean "unfazed." Look up words you're uncertain about. Getting denotation wrong is one of the fastest ways to lose a careful reader.
Purely denotative prose reads like an instruction manual. It's factually clear but emotionally dead. Let denotation anchor your meaning, then use connotation to bring it to life.
Write five sentences using the word "cold" - one for each of its denotations (low temperature, unfriendly personality, a common illness, a trail gone stale, lacking preparation). Then rewrite each sentence replacing "cold" with a word that carries stronger connotation. Notice how the emotional temperature shifts even when the facts don't.