Pejorative | Meaning, Definition & Examples
A pejorative is a word used to express disapproval, criticism, or disrespect toward a person, group, or concept. Pejoratives are inherently negative and meant to belittle or insult the subject they refer to. While their seriousness and impact can vary depending on the context and audience, pejoratives are loaded terms and should be used with caution.
After he made that rude comment at the meeting, everyone started to see him as a real jerk.
Pejorative meaning
Pejorative language includes words and phrases with negative connotations. The word “pejorative” can function as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it means disparaging or derogatory. Terms of abuse, racial slurs, and insults all fall under pejorative language. As a noun, it signifies a word expressing contempt or disdain.
Some pejorative words are universally negative, while others are context- or group-specific. If you call someone a “loner,” for instance, you may simply mean that they prefer to be alone, but you may also imply that they are antisocial. Your tone, relationship to the individual, and body language can influence how the word is perceived. On the other hand, terms like “white trash” are offensive regardless of the context or intent.
Pejoratives not only communicate strong opinions but also shape how we perceive individuals, ideas, or groups. By recognizing and understanding pejorative language, we can become more aware of how tone, bias, and subtext function in communication.
How do words become pejorative?
Sometimes a benign or neutral word may become pejorative over time, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like race, disability, or health. Motivated by a desire not to offend, people often replace one word for another, more polite word. However, the euphemism itself also acquires a negative connotation and is replaced once again.
The words “imbecile,” “feeble-minded,” and “mentally retarded,” for instance, were all once clinical terms used to describe people with intellectual disabilities but are no longer used today as they have become pejorative.
Conversely, a pejorative word can undergo semantic change and acquire a positive meaning. The word “queer,” for example, once used as a slur against gender nonconforming individuals, has been reclaimed by many within the LGBTQ+ community as a positive identifier.
Pejorative words examples
Pejorative words can range in severity, from mild insults to more offensive slurs.
| Severity level | Pejorative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | oddball | a strange or eccentric individual |
| snob | someone who feels superior to others | |
| know-it-all | an individual who thinks they know everything and does not accept information or advice from others | |
| Moderate | lazy | someone who does not want to work or make any effort to do anything |
| coward | used to insult someone who lacks courage or is easily scared | |
| ignorant | lacking knowledge or awareness; uneducated | |
| More offensive | idiot | a stupid or foolish person |
| freeloader | a person who takes things from others without paying for them or giving anything in return | |
| Highly offensive | failure | someone who is deemed worthless or inadequate |
| Most offensive | crippled | outdated and stigmatizing term for people with physical disabilities |
Pejorative language is often associated with personality traits, appearance, and professions, among other things.
| Pejorative words for personality traits | airhead | unintelligent |
| busybody | interfering person | |
| loudmouth | obnoxiously talkative | |
| sleazeball | unethical person | |
| whiner | someone who complains excessively | |
| Pejorative words for physical appearance | beanpole | someone who is very thin and tall |
| four-eyes | someone who is wearing glasses | |
| hag | an unattractive older woman | |
| fat | considered offensive when used to describe someone’s body, although some people have reclaimed the term. | |
| Pejoratives based on profession | ambulance chaser | a lawyer who seeks accident victims as clients |
| code monkey | a programmer or developer who writes code quickly and without much thought or creativity | |
| hack | a writer producing dull, unoriginal work | |
| tree-hugger | an environmental campaigner | |
| Pejoratives describing practices | mansplaining | used in situations when a mans is explaining something to a woman in a condescending way |
| spoon-feeding | to give someone so much help or information that they do not try for themselves | |
| virtue signaling | publicly expressing opinions or behaviors just to show off moral superiority or gain social approval | |
| helicopter parenting | refers to an overprotective and very involved parenting style. |
Related terms
The following terms are closely related to pejoratives, each with their own nuances.
- Dysphemism is the deliberate use of words that emphasize negative aspects of something rather than neutral or polite terms. Often intended to express disapproval or provoke a reaction, dysphemisms can make statements more shocking. For instance, choosing “croak” over “pass away” is a harsher way to describe death.
- Invective refers to highly intense, emotionally charged language intended to insult or offend directly. It often takes the form of an extended rant, stringing together multiple pejorative terms.
- Epithet is a descriptive term or phrase that characterizes a person or thing, which can be either positive or negative. When used to attack or insult (e.g., calling someone a “scoundrel”), epithets become pejorative.
Frequently asked questions about pejoratives
- What does perjorative mean?
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“Perjorative” is a common misspelling of pejorative. It means a word or expression with disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect.
- What are examples of pejorative words?
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“Slacker,” “moron,” and “idiot” are examples of pejorative words. A pejorative is a word that expresses disapproval or contempt.
