derogatory

[ dih-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
See synonyms for derogatory on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing; disparaging; depreciatory: a derogatory remark.

Origin of derogatory

1
First recorded in 1495–1505; from Late Latin dērogātōrius “belonging to a repeal”; equivalent to derogate + -tory1

Other words for derogatory

Other words from derogatory

  • de·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
  • de·rog·a·to·ri·ness, noun
  • non·de·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
  • non·de·rog·a·to·ri·ly·ness, noun
  • non·de·rog·a·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for derogatory

derogatory

/ (dɪˈrɒɡətərɪ, -trɪ) /


adjective
  1. tending or intended to detract, disparage, or belittle; intentionally offensive

Derived forms of derogatory

  • derogatorily, adverb
  • derogatoriness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012