# derogatory

Pronunciation: US say "di-ROG-uh-tor-ee" /dɪˈɹɑɡəˌtɔɹi/; UK say "di-ROG-uh-tree" /dɪˈɹɒɡətɹi/

## Adjective

1. Expressing a low opinion of someone or something in a way meant to belittle or insult.
   - Simple: Showing that you think badly of someone or something, in a rude or unkind way.
   - _The coach apologized for derogatory remarks he made about the other team's fans._
   - _Several employees complained about derogatory jokes told at the staff meeting._
2. Lessening the power, authority, or value of something, such as a governing body; detracting from it.
   - Simple: Making something, like a government, weaker or less important.
   - _Critics argued that the treaty was derogatory to the sovereignty of Parliament._
   - _No amendment derogatory to the rights of the member states may pass without a unanimous vote._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A tradeline, or account entry, on a credit report that shows negative credit history.
- (adjective) Of a clause in a will: declaring void any later will that does not repeat certain secret words or a sign.

## Origin

The word matches derogate plus -ory. English took it from Late Latin dērogātōrius, which was formed from Latin dērogō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/derogatory (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).