Which term describes the literal meaning of a word?

• A. Denotation.
• B. Connotation.
• C. Ambiguity.
• D. Metaphor.

Answer: (A)

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word—the explicit reference you’d find in a dictionary. It captures what the word denotes in the most direct, factual sense, without any subjective feelings, associations, or broader implications. This is why it’s the best answer when you’re asked for the plain, everyday meaning of a word.

Connotation, in contrast, involves the ideas, emotions, or cultural baggage that a word evokes beyond its literal sense. Ambiguity refers to having more than one possible meaning, which can affect interpretation but isn’t itself the literal definition. Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something by saying it is something else, illustrating meaning beyond the literal.