PEJORATIVE Meaning and
Definition
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The term "pejorative" is an adjective in English that describes a word, phrase, or expression which conveys a negative or disparaging meaning, often used to belittle or mock someone or something. It is derived from the Latin word "peior," meaning worse. Pejorative language can be employed intentionally to insult, offend, or degrade individuals or certain groups of people based on various characteristics such as race, religion, gender, or social status.
The use of pejorative language often implies a negative judgment or bias towards the subject at hand, aiming to diminish its value or importance. Such expressions might be employed in everyday conversation, literature, journalism, or any form of communication where the intent is to criticize or ridicule. Pejorative terms can evoke feelings of disrespect, humiliation, or discrimination, and their usage can perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce harmful attitudes in society.
It is important to note that while some terms are universally understood as pejorative, the perception of language can vary among different cultures, social groups, or even individuals. The context and intent behind the usage of a word can further influence its pejorative nature. As language evolves over time, certain terms that may have been regarded as pejorative in the past can be reclaimed or lose their negative connotation.
To promote respectful and inclusive communication, it is crucial to be aware of the potential harm caused by using pejorative language and to strive for using terms that reflect understanding and respect for others.
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* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
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Etymology of PEJORATIVE
The word "pejorative" is derived from the Latin word "pejor", which means "worse" or "inferior". It entered the English language in the late 19th century, specifically from the French word "péjoratif". The French term is a direct borrowing from the Latin root and maintains the same meaning. The suffix "-ive" in English and "-atif" in French both indicate the quality of something being inclined towards or characterized by the root word. Therefore, "pejorative" describes a word or expression that conveys disapproval, contempt, or negative associations.
Similar spelling word for PEJORATIVE
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