What term describes the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word?

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Denotation refers to the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word. When you describe a word in its exact, plain sense, you’re using denotative language. This focuses on the explicit meaning rather than any feelings or ideas the word might evoke. The other ideas don’t fit: connotation deals with emotions and associations tied to a word, technical language is specialized vocabulary used in a field, and onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate sounds. So the term that best describes the dictionary definition or literal meaning is denotative language.