pejorative
/pɪˈdʒɒɹətɪv/
Group 34Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (adjective)
- Expressing contempt or disapproval GRE
- (noun)
- A word expressing contempt or disapproval GRE
Example in Context
The term, once neutral, had acquired a pejorative connotation over the decades and was now considered offensive by the community it described.
Etymology
From Latin meaning 'worse', indicating a negative or derogatory term.
- pejor (Latin) — worse
Memory Aid
😒Sounds like “pay-joke”
When I told my friend his haircut was a PAY-JOKE, it was a PEJORATIVE comment that made him frown!
Visual Association
😡A person grimacing while reading a nasty comment on social media, illustrating contempt.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “pejorative” mean on the GRE?
pejorative (adjective) means “Expressing contempt or disapproval”. The term, once neutral, had acquired a pejorative connotation over the decades and was now considered offensive by the community it described.
How to remember “pejorative” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “pejorative” sounds like “pay-joke”. When I told my friend his haircut was a PAY-JOKE, it was a PEJORATIVE comment that made him frown!