Pejorative facts for kids

A pejorative (say: puh-JOR-uh-tiv) is a word or phrase that shows a negative feeling, a low opinion, or a lack of respect towards someone or something. It's used to criticize, show dislike, or ignore someone. Sometimes, a word might be seen as negative by one group but not by another. Also, a word that was once negative can become neutral or even positive over time, and vice versa.

What Does 'Pejorative' Mean?

The word pejorative comes from a Late Latin word, peiorare, which means "to make worse." It's related to the Latin word peior, meaning "worse." So, a pejorative word is one that makes something seem worse or bad.

Words That Change Meaning

Words can change their meaning over time. This is called semantic drift.

When Words Become Negative (Pejoration)

Sometimes, a word that was once harmless or even positive becomes negative. This process is called pejoration.

• For example, the word silly used to mean someone was happy and lucky. But now, it means someone is foolish or not very smart.
• Another example is how words for bathrooms have changed. People keep finding new words because the old ones start to sound a bit rude or too direct. This is like a "euphemism treadmill" – you keep needing new words because the old ones become less polite. Think about words like latrine, water closet, and toilet.

When Words Become Positive (Melioration)

The opposite can also happen! When a word that started as negative becomes neutral or even positive, it's called melioration (say: mee-lee-uh-RAY-shun) or amelioration.

• A good example is the word nice. Long ago, nice meant someone was foolish or simple. Today, nice means someone is pleasant, kind, and friendly.
• When people who were targeted by a negative word start using it themselves in a positive way, it's called reclaiming or reappropriation. It's like taking the power away from the negative meaning.

See also

In Spanish: Peyorativo para niños