pejorative

American  

[pi-jawr-uh-tiv, -jor-] / pɪˈdʒɔr ə tɪv, -ˈdʒɒr- /

adjective

1. having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling meaning or effect.

   The -ling in princeling is a pejorative suffix.

   Synonyms:

   deprecatory

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noun

1. a form or word that is disparaging, derogatory, or belittling, such as bean counter for an accountant, or the -nik in peacenik.

pejorative British  

/ pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv, ˈpiːdʒər- /

adjective

1. (of words, expressions, etc) having an unpleasant or disparaging connotation

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noun

1. a pejorative word, expression, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonpejorative adjective
• nonpejoratively adverb
• pejoratively adverb
• unpejorative adjective
• unpejoratively adverb

Etymology

Origin of pejorative

First recorded in 1880–85; from Latin pējōrāt(us) “made worse” ( pejoration ) + -ive

Example Sentences

A few years ago, the university renamed what was formerly its Oriental Institute, partly to avoid the “pejorative connotations” of the word “oriental.”

From The Wall Street Journal

This pivot away from the cradle-to-grave approach is likely due in part to what Mangold described last year as “the pejorative way people refer to musical biopics.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But the street, now, is built on ideas of instant fame — “selling out,” once a pejorative, is now an ambition.

From Los Angeles Times

There is a pejorative word—reactionary—to describe such an enterprise.

From The Wall Street Journal

I also remember that when I spent some time with hobos — and I’m not sure if that’s a pejorative word today, but they’re a little different category of people than simply those who are homeless.

From Los Angeles Times