The denotative meaning of a word refers most closely to which of the following?

The denotative meaning of a word refers to its literal dictionary definition, which is the objective and primary meaning intended in communication. This meaning is consistent regardless of personal feelings or emotional associations that individuals may have with the word.

In contrast to synonyms, which are words that have similar meanings, and antonyms, which are words with opposite meanings, the denotative meaning specifically relates to the straightforward, explicit definition provided in a dictionary. Emotional association pertains to the connotative meaning, which encompasses the emotional or cultural implications a word carries beyond its literal definition. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the fundamental concept of language as reflected in formal definitions.