pejorative
[ pi-jawr-uh-tiv, -jor-, pej-uh-rey-, pee-juh- ]
/ pɪˈdʒɔr ə tɪv, -ˈdʒɒr-, ˈpɛdʒ əˌreɪ-, ˈpi dʒə- /
adjective
having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force: the pejorative affix -ling in princeling.
noun
a pejorative form or word, as poetaster.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for pejorative
pejorative
/ (pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv, ˈpiːdʒər-) /
adjective
(of words, expressions, etc) having an unpleasant or disparaging connotation
noun
a pejorative word, expression, etc
Derived Formspejoratively, adverb
Word Origin for pejorative
C19: from French péjoratif, from Late Latin pējōrātus, past participle of pējōrāre to make worse, from Latin pēior worse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for pejorative
pejorative
"depreciative, disparaging," 1888, from French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorat-, past participle stem of peiorare "make worse," from Latin peior "worse," related to pessimus "worst," pessum "downward, to the ground," from PIE *ped-yos-, comparative of root *ped- "to walk, stumble, impair" (see peccadillo). As a noun from 1882. English had a verb pejorate "to worsen" from 1640s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper