Agency Dictionary
pejorative
adjectivePronunciation: /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪv/
In Portuguese: pejorativo
Writing & NarrativeWhat does “pejorative” mean?
Expressing contempt, disparagement, or disapproval through derogatory linguistic connotations.
Etymology
From Late Latin pejoratus, the past participle of pejorare (to make worse, to worsen), from the comparative adjective pejor (worse). The English word took the suffix -ive. A French cognate péjoratif may also have influenced the form. The term entered English around the late nineteenth century, primarily in linguistic contexts.
Usage note
A pejorative is the opposite of a meliorative, a word or form that expresses approval. Many words become pejorative through repeated use in dismissive or hostile contexts.
Synonyms
- disparaging
- derogatory
- deprecatory
- demeaning
- slighting
Word family
- pejoratively
- pejoration
Usage examples
The term "sophism" is often used in a negative or pejorative sense today due to its historical association.
Writing.2 - Aphorisms The term "sophism" is often used in a negative or pejorative sense today due to its historical association.
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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