pejorative

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

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

SEE 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.

Words nearby pejorative

peipus, peiraeus, peiraievs, peirce, pejoration, pejorative, pekan, peke, pekepoo, pekin, peking

Origin of pejorative

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

SYNONYMS FOR pejorative

1 deprecatory.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pejorative ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM pejorative

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. 2020

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 forms of pejorative

pejoratively, 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

pejorative

adjective

noun

Words related to pejorative

Words nearby pejorative

Origin of pejorative

SYNONYMS FOR pejorative

OTHER WORDS FROM pejorative

Examples from the Web for pejorative

British Dictionary definitions for pejorative

adjective

noun

Derived forms of pejorative

Word Origin for pejorative