pejorative

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv/ UK /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/ See IPA manual

adj noun

Meanings

1

adj
expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging

He used the word in its most pejorative sense.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · expressing contempt or... disparaging derogatory deprecatory contemptuousbelittlinginsulting

Opposites

complimentary laudatoryapprobatoryameliorative

Word family

Derived forms pejoratively

Related forms pejoratepejoration

Etymology

From French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad').

péjoratif French peiorare Latin peior Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# pejorative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** pɪˈdʒɔrətɪv
**IPA (UK):** pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv

## Meanings
1. expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging

## Examples
- He used the word in its most pejorative sense.

## Synonyms
- disparaging
- derogatory
- deprecatory
- contemptuous
- belittling
- insulting

## Antonyms
- complimentary
- laudatory
- approbatory
- ameliorative

## Derived Forms
- pejoratively

## Related Forms
- pejorate
- pejoration

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: péjoratif
- Root: peiorare
- Root: peior

## Etymology
From French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad').

## AI Etymology
Pejorative comes from French péjoratif, from Late Latin peiorare ('to make worse'), from Latin peior ('worse'), comparative of malus ('bad'). The etymological trail includes French péjoratif, Latin peiorare, and Latin peior. As an adjective, pejorative means expressing contempt or disapproval; disparaging. The same family is visible in derived forms such as pejoratively and related forms such as pejorate and pejoration.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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pejorative

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