noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌpiːd͡ʒəˈɹeɪʃən/
/pɛ-/
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act or process of becoming worse; worsening or degeneration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Any process by which a word acquires a more negative meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pejorativization
Antonyms: amelioration
History
Etymology
From Latin peiōrātiō. By surface analysis, pejorate + -ion.