legal connotation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legal connotation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the implications or associations that a term or phrase has within a legal context. Example: "The term 'negligence' carries a specific legal connotation that is important for understanding liability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It has more of a legal connotation than retract.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is deadly serious stuff with enormous legal connotations: already Ecuador has enshrined the rights of nature in its constitution, and "Mother Earth" rights would extend rights to all living entities in all countries.

The Guardian

On the other hand, in the United States, it is the terminology of "competence" that is often said to carry legal connotations and authority (Buchanan 2004; Berg et al. 1996).

SEP

Ownership of the data has legal and practical connotations.

Journal of Big Data

Politicians would be better off using the phrase "atrocity crimes" — a term with no pre-existing connotations or legal criteria — to describe any combination of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, leaving it to historians and jurists to determine, free of political influence, which atrocity crimes belong to which category.

The New York Times

However, we are not proposing that Feldman's explanation of rights talk as being conflictive is justification of using oral ADs over written ones; rather, we are suggesting that the sociological connotations involved with legal documents is a factor behind the evasion from the legalization of ADs.

BMC Medical Ethics

But Mr. Mosley has denied there were Nazi connotations and has begun legal proceedings against the newspaper, accusing it of invasion of privacy.

The New York Times - Sports

In a casual sense, the term "entitlement" refers to a notion or belief that one (or oneself) is deserving of some particular reward or benefit — if given without deeper legal or principled cause, the term is often given with pejorative connotation (e.g. a "sense of entitlement").

The New Yorker

Property, an object of legal rights, which embraces possessions or wealth collectively, frequently with strong connotations of individual ownership.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Legal historians identify suretyship with situations that are quite outside the modern connotations of the term.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The connotation, mainly, is crime".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legal connotation" when you want to specifically highlight the legal implications or associations a word or phrase carries, especially when those implications might not be immediately obvious.

Common error

Avoid using "legal connotation" when simply referring to a general definition; reserve it for situations where the legal aspect is a crucial and potentially nuanced layer of meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "legal connotation" functions as a noun phrase, where "legal" modifies "connotation". It specifies that the connotation being discussed is related to law. Ludwig indicates that it's used to discuss legal implications or associations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "legal connotation" is used to describe the specific legal implications or associations that a word or concept carries. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usage in highlighting the legal dimensions of language. While relatively rare, this phrase is most often found in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts, indicating its relevance in formal discussions. When writing, use "legal connotation" to draw attention to the legal weight a term carries, avoiding it in general definitions. Alternatives like "legal implication" or "juridical meaning" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legal implication

Replaces "connotation" with "implication", focusing on the practical effects or consequences in law.

juridical meaning

Substitutes "legal" with "juridical", a more formal term, and "connotation" with "meaning", emphasizing the legal sense of a term.

legal significance

Replaces "connotation" with "significance", highlighting the importance from a legal standpoint.

legal sense

Focuses on the understanding of a term within the scope of law.

legal coloring

Uses "coloring" metaphorically to suggest a legal influence or perspective.

legal interpretation

Highlights how a term is understood or construed in a legal context.

legal understanding

Focuses on the accepted legal definition or interpretation.

legal construction

Suggests the way a legal concept is built or interpreted.

legal implication

Highlights consequences or effects in law

legal overtone

Uses "overtone" to describe a subtle, underlying legal aspect.

FAQs

How to use "legal connotation" in a sentence?

You can use "legal connotation" to specify the legal implications of a term, such as: "The word 'domicile' carries a specific "legal connotation" related to residency and jurisdiction."

What's the difference between "legal connotation" and "legal implication"?

"Legal connotation" refers to the associations and nuances a term carries in law, while "legal implication" refers to the consequences or effects arising from a legal matter. You can use "legal implication" when you talk about effects and consequences and use "legal connotation" when you talk about associations and nuances.

What can I say instead of "legal connotation"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "legal implication", "juridical meaning", or "legal significance".

Is it correct to say "a word has legal connotations"?

Yes, it's correct. This indicates that the word carries specific legal associations or implications that are important to consider in a legal context.