English Explanatory Dictionary

pejorative

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Disparaging, belittling or derogatory.
noun
  1. A disparaging, belittling, or derogatory word or expression.

Pronunciation

/pɪˈd͡ʒɒɹətɪv/ /pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/ /pɪˈd͡ʒɑɹ.ə.tɪv/ /pəˈd͡ʒoɹətəv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-pejorative.wav

Word forms

pejorative more pejorative most pejorative pejoratives

Etymology

From Late Latin peiōrātus (“worsened”, past participle of peiōrāre (“worsen”), from Latin peior (“worse”)) + -ive. Compare French péjoratif (“depreciative, disparaging”). By surface analysis, pejorate + -ive.

Synonyms

derogatory dyslogistic disrespectful dyslogism dysphemism

Antonyms

ameliorative approbative eulogistic meliorative approvative euphemism

Derived words

nonpejorative pejoratively pejorativeness pejorativization unpejorative
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