Meaning & use
pejorative
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Showing disapproval or contempt; said of a word or remark that belittles what it names.
Grammar: Often placed before a noun, or after be: a pejorative term; the word is pejorative.
Patterns
- pejorative term
- pejorative to someone
Some people use the word 'cheap' in a pejorative sense.
The reporter apologized for a pejorative remark about the town.
In that region, the nickname is clearly pejorative.
nouncountable
A word or expression that expresses contempt or insults someone or something.
Grammar: Refers to the word itself: that term is a pejorative.
Patterns
- use something as a pejorative
The nickname started as a pejorative, but the team adopted it with pride.
Linguists list the pejoratives that have faded from common use.
He used 'amateur' as a pejorative.
Word forms
| plural | pejoratives |
|---|
Common combinations
- pejorative term
- Teachers discussed why it is a pejorative term.
- pejorative sense
- The word is rarely used in a pejorative sense these days.
- pejorative connotation
- The label carries a pejorative connotation.
- use as a pejorative
- Critics used the word as a pejorative.
- pejorative language
- The manual warns against pejorative language.
Synonyms and how they differ
- derogatory
- Derogatory is nearly the same but is used more often of remarks or attitudes than of words as a category.
- disparaging
- Disparaging describes the act of putting something down, while pejorative describes the word's built-in negative tone.
- insulting
- Insulting is plainer and more general; pejorative is the technical word for language.
- derisive
- Derisive suggests mocking laughter, which pejorative does not need to involve.
Opposites
Word family
- pejoratively adverb
- in a contemptuous way
- pejoration noun
- the process by which a word takes on a worse meaning
- pejorate verb
- to make worse; rare
Commonly confused: pejorative or perjury? pejorative or preferential?
pejorative vs perjury
Perjury is lying under oath in court; it is not about insulting language.
pejorative vs preferential
Preferential means giving special favor, which is unrelated to contempt.
Practice
The politician said 'tourist' in a ___ tone, making clear he looked down on visitors.
Choose one answer.
Pejorative describes a tone that expresses contempt. Flattering and neutral would not suggest looking down on visitors.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pejorative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.