Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Disparaging; belittling.
- noun A disparaging or belittling word or expression.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Tending or intended to depreciate or deteriorate, as the sense of a word; giving a low or bad sense to.
- noun In grammar, a word that depreciates or deteriorates the sense: thus, poetaster is a pejorative of poet, criticaster of critic.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Implying or imputing evil; depreciatory; disparaging; unfavorable.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Disparaging ,belittling orderogatory . - noun A
disparaging ,belittling , orderogatory word or expression.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective expressing disapproval
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word pejorative.
Examples
-
After reviewing, GLAAD called on Universal to remove the scene where the word 'gay' was used as a pejorative from the trailer.
Gay Slur REMOVED From 'The Dilemma' Trailer Katy Hall 2010
-
The double pejorative is unfortunate, as I also find the term to be pretty clever.
-
After reviewing, GLAAD called on Universal to remove the scene where the word 'gay' was used as a pejorative from the trailer.
Gay Slur REMOVED From 'The Dilemma' Trailer The Huffington Post News Team 2010
-
Was Sarah correct; That using the term “RETARDS” as a pejorative is insensitive and cruel?
Think Progress » Palin says she’s fine with Limbaugh’s use of the ‘r-word.’ 2010
-
That use of the pejorative is by blacks, not whites. fifth monarchy man: Sort of like African Americans who were allowed to participate in southern society as long as they acted like white folks.
-
After reviewing, GLAAD called on Universal to remove the scene where the word 'gay' was used as a pejorative from the trailer.
Gay Slur REMOVED From 'The Dilemma' Trailer Katy Hall 2010
-
That use of the pejorative is by blacks, not whites.
-
They use gambling only in pejorative contexts, as in “problem gambling.”
Macau’s Big Gamble 2007
-
They use gambling only in pejorative contexts, as in “problem gambling.”
Macau’s Big Gamble 2007
-
Why “masculine” tends to be a term of praise and “feminine” (or worse, effeminate) pejorative is another matter.
By the Letters : Christian Bök : Harriet the Blog : The Poetry Foundation 2007
chained_bear commented on the word pejorative
I like this word. I also like depreciatory.
October 18, 2007
blafferty commented on the word pejorative
The word itself sounds like you're spitting. If you say it in the right tone of voice it sounds like a Klingon insult.
May 24, 2009