derogatory

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /dɪˈrɑɡəˌtɔri/ UK /dɪˈrɒɡətəri/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
showing a critical or disrespectful attitude; belittling

He was reprimanded for making derogatory remarks about colleagues.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing a critical or... disparagingbelittlingdemeaningpejorative deprecatory insulting contemptuous

Opposites

complimentary flattering laudatory respectful

Word family

Derived forms derogatorilyderogatoriness

Related forms derogate derogativederogation

Etymology

From Late Latin derogatorius, from Latin derogare ('to detract from, repeal in part'), from de- ('away') + rogare ('to ask, propose a law').

derogatorius Latin rogare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# derogatory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** dɪˈrɑɡəˌtɔri
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈrɒɡətəri

## Meanings
1. showing a critical or disrespectful attitude; belittling

## Examples
- He was reprimanded for making derogatory remarks about colleagues.

## Synonyms
- disparaging
- belittling
- demeaning
- pejorative
- deprecatory
- insulting
- contemptuous

## Antonyms
- complimentary
- flattering
- laudatory
- respectful

## Derived Forms
- derogatorily
- derogatoriness

## Related Forms
- derogate
- derogative
- derogation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: derogatorius
- Root: rogare

## Etymology
From Late Latin derogatorius, from Latin derogare ('to detract from, repeal in part'), from de- ('away') + rogare ('to ask, propose a law').

## AI Etymology
Derogatory is from Late Latin derogatorius, from Latin derogare ('to detract from, repeal in part'), from de- ('away') + rogare ('to ask, propose a law'). The ancestry passes through Latin derogatorius and Latin rogare. The prefix de- often marks removal, reversal, or downward motion in Latin formations, helping to explain the word's surface structure. In present use as an adjective, it means "showing a critical or disrespectful attitude; belittling", keeping the historical formation close to the word's ordinary semantic work. Related words include derogate, derogative, and derogation; derived forms include derogatorily and derogatoriness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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