Grade 5 · Reading · Lesson 6

Learn connotation vs denotation

Two words can mean almost the same thing in the dictionary and still feel completely different. The dictionary meaning is called the DENOTATION. The feeling or attitude a word carries is called the CONNOTATION. Strong writers pick words for both — what they mean AND what they make readers feel.

What this lesson teaches

1Define denotation as a word’s dictionary meaning
2Define connotation as the feeling a word carries
3Sort words by positive, neutral, or negative connotation
4Choose the word whose connotation best fits the audience

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