Pejorative

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /pɪˈdÊ’É’rÉ™tɪv/
• GenAm IPA: /pəˈdʒɔɹətɪv/

Origin

French 1882 péjorative ("depreciative, disparaging"), from Late Latin peioratus, past participle of peiorare ("make worse"), from Latin peior ("worse"). Compare English 1644 pejorate ("to worsen"), from the same etymology.

Full definition of pejorative

Adjective

1. Disparaging, belittling or derogatory.

Synonyms

• derogatory
• dyslogistic

Antonyms

• approbative
• eulogistic
• meliorative

Noun

1. A disparaging, belittling, or derogatory word or expression.

Synonyms

• dyslogism
• dysphemism

Antonyms

• eulogism