pejoration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Linguistic / Formal
Quick answer
What does “pejoration” mean?
The process by which a word acquires a more negative or less favorable meaning over time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process by which a word acquires a more negative or less favorable meaning over time.
The semantic change of a word towards a lower, more derogatory, or less prestigious meaning. Also, the act or an instance of disparaging or belittling something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is highly specialized and used identically in both linguistic communities.
Connotations
Neutral academic/linguistic term in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, but standard within the field of linguistics and semantic studies in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “pejoration” in a Sentence
the pejoration of [NOUN PHRASE]to undergo pejorationto be a case/example of pejorationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pejoration” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The term has pejorated significantly since the 18th century.
- Slang terms often pejorate rapidly.
American English
- The word's meaning pejorated over a few decades.
- Many occupational titles have pejorated historically.
adverb
British English
- The term shifted pejoratively.
- It was used increasingly pejoratively.
American English
- Its meaning changed pejoratively over time.
- The word is now understood pejoratively.
adjective
British English
- The pejorative trend was clear from the corpus data.
- A pejorational shift was observed.
American English
- The pejorative process is well-documented.
- We studied the pejorational pathway of the lexeme.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in analysis of brand name perception over time.
Academic
Core term in historical linguistics and semantics.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in linguistics for a specific type of semantic shift.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pejoration”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pejoration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pejoration”
- Misspelling as 'perjoration' (confusion with 'perjury').
- Using it as a synonym for 'pejorative' (it's the process, not the descriptor).
- Pronouncing the 'j' as /j/ (as in 'yes') instead of /dʒ/ (as in 'judge').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A 'pejorative' is a word or expression with a derogatory meaning (e.g., an insult). 'Pejoration' is the historical process by which a word acquires that negative meaning.
The word 'basic' has arguably undergone pejoration in recent slang. From a neutral adjective meaning 'fundamental', it has acquired a derogatory sense describing something mainstream and lacking sophistication.
It is typically a slow, gradual process that occurs over decades or centuries, as social connotations shift. However, in the age of social media, semantic shifts can sometimes accelerate.
No, pejoration often happens to words that were originally neutral or even positive. For example, 'silly' once meant 'happy' or 'blessed', and 'awful' originally meant 'inspiring awe' (positive).
The process by which a word acquires a more negative or less favorable meaning over time.
Pejoration is usually academic / linguistic / formal in register.
Pejoration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɛdʒəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɛdʒəˈreɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'PEJorative' remark making something worse. PEJORation is the process of a word's meaning becoming worse, like the word 'silly' once meant 'blessed'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEANING IS DIRECTION (downwards). LANGUAGE IS A LIVING ENTITY (that can degenerate).
Practice
Quiz
What is the opposite linguistic process to pejoration?