French word

péjoratif

Pronunciation

IPA/peʒoʁatif/

Meaning

  • adjectivederogatory

Example

Il a fait un commentaire péjoratif sur son collègue.

He made a derogatory comment about his colleague.

Illustration for péjoratif (derogatory)

More examples

Évite les mots péjoratifs dans un courriel professionnel.

Avoid derogatory words in a professional email.

Core concept

A word or remark that puts its target down.

Common phrases

  • mot péjoratif

    derogatory word

  • expression péjorative

    derogatory expression

  • remarque péjorative

    derogatory remark

Similar words

insultant: Offensive and intended to hurt or insult someone.
injurieux: Insulting in a way that harms someone's dignity or feelings.
méprisant: Showing contempt and treating someone as inferior.
dénigrant: Speaking negatively to damage someone's or something's reputation.

Definition in French

Qui véhicule une connotation négative visant à diminuer, critiquer ou insulter quelqu'un ou quelque chose.

Word origin

Péjoratif derives from Medieval Latin pejorativus, built on pejor, meaning 'worse', and denotes a worsening or disparaging quality.

Usage tips

  • Péjoratif agrees in gender and number: péjoratif, péjorative, péjoratifs, and péjoratives.

Opposites

  • flatteurflatteringadjective
  • élogieuxlaudatoryadjective

Related words

  • péjorationdeteriorationnoun
  • péjorerworsenverb

Word lists with this word