Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pejorative

/pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.74 in modern English

Syllables: pe-jo-ra-tive
IPA: /pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/

22

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Disparaging, belittling or derogatory.

noun

A disparaging, belittling, or derogatory word or expression.

Example Sentences

"These days, on platforms like X, slopulism is a pejorative label often applied to posts by politicians and pundits alike, anyone who shares out lowest-common-denominator ideas designed to appeal to loyal political bases."
"“Get away from me, freak.” “Actually, my designation is Logic-y. I take issue with the pejorative when I am simply a product of your self-inflicted bifurcation.”"

Etymology

From Late Latin peiōrātus (“worsened”, past participle of peiōrāre (“worsen”), from Latin peior (“worse”)) + -ive. Compare French péjoratif (“depreciative, disparaging”). By surface analysis, pejorate + -ive.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: *ped-, peior
Suffix: la-lat:peiōrātus peiōrāre (“worsen”), from Latin peior (“worse”)>

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/
British English: /pɪˈd͡ʒɒɹətɪv/

Inflected Forms

more pejorative (comparative) most pejorative (superlative) pejoratives (plural)

Derived Forms

nonpejorative pejoratively pejorativeness pejorativization unpejorative

Synonyms

derogatory dyslogistic disrespectful dyslogism dysphemism dislogistic

Antonyms

ameliorative approbative eulogistic meliorative approvative euphemism

Rhymes With

restorative

Questions

How do you pronounce pejorative?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/.
What does pejorative mean?: Disparaging, belittling or derogatory.
Where does pejorative come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce pejorative

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pejorative”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɪˈd͡ʒoɹətɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “pejorative” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.