pejorative

[ pi-jawr-uh-tiv, -jor-, pej-uh-rey-, pee-juh- ]

/ pɪˈdʒɔr ə tɪv, -ˈdʒɒr-, ˈpɛdʒ əˌreɪ-, ˈpi dʒə- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pejorative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force: the pejorative affix -ling in princeling.

noun

a pejorative form or word, as poetaster.

Nearby words

Origin of pejorative

1880–85; < Latin pējōrāt(us) (see pejoration) + -ive

SYNONYMS FOR pejorative

1. deprecatory.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pejorative ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pe·jo·ra·tive·ly, adverbnon·pe·jo·ra·tive, adjectivenon·pe·jo·ra·tive·ly, adverbun·pe·jo·ra·tive, adjective

un·pe·jo·ra·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pejorative

In Spanish the word joke (broma) is not at all pejorative, it is playful.
Isabel Allende’s Controversial New Thriller|Jane Ciabattari|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“A Billy Collins poem” has even been used as a pejorative term in certain workshop settings.
Why Billy Collins Is America’s Most Popular Poet|Austen Rosenfeld|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Grossman is quick to point out that he does not consider the term “sheep” a pejorative.
In Defense of a Good Guy With a Gun|Brian Castner|April 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is no need to qualify this assessment with a pejorative “for a reality-TV show.”
The Rehab Show That Works|Natasha Vargas-Cooper|July 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST

It seems odd that the phrase “best and brightest” should be such a pejorative term.
My Address—and Apology—to Yale|Christopher Buckley|May 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
But given its age and its purpose this ought not to be construed in the contemporary, pejorative sense.
Diego Collado's Grammar of the Japanese Language|Diego Collado
This term is a pejorative which may be applied also to the exercise of our other senses.
The Natural Philosophy of Love|Remy de Gourmont
Alternatively, Professor A. Dalzell points out to me that illa could have a pejorative sense.
The Last Poems of Ovid|Ovid

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pejorative

pejorative

adj.

"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.