pejoration

[ pej-uh-rey-shuh n, pee-juh- ]
/ ˌpɛdʒ əˈreɪ ʃən, ˌpi dʒə- /

noun

depreciation; a lessening in worth, quality, etc.
Historical Linguistics. semantic change in a word to a lower, less approved, or less respectable meaning. Compare melioration(def 1).

Origin of pejoration

1650–60; < Medieval Latin pējōrātiōn- (stem of pējōrātiō) a making worse, equivalent to Late Latin pējōrāt(us) (past participle of pējōrāre to make worse, derivative of pējor worse) + -iōn- -ion

Words nearby pejoration

Example sentences from the Web for pejoration

British Dictionary definitions for pejoration

pejoration
/ (ˌpiːdʒəˈreɪʃən) /

noun

linguistics semantic change whereby a word acquires unfavourable connotations the English word ``silly'' changed its meaning from ``holy'' or ``happy'' by pejoration Compare amelioration (def. 3)
the process of worsening; deterioration