derogatory

Borrowed from Late Latin dērogātōrius, from Latin dērogāre; corresponding to derogate +‎ -ory.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈɹɒɡətɹi/
• (US) IPA^(key): /dɪˈɹɑɡətɔɹi/

derogatory (comparative more derogatory, superlative most derogatory)

1. (usually with to) Tending to derogate, or lessen in value of someone; expressing derogation; detracting

   Synonym: injurious

   • 1768, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England

     Acts of Parliament derogatory from the power of subsequent Parliaments bind not.

   • 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II

     [H]is language was severely censured by some of his brother peers as derogatory to their order.

   • 2018, Ben Rothenberg in The New York Times

     Billie Jean King said Friday that the Australian Open's Margaret Court Arena should have its name changed because of Court's derogatory comments about gay and transgender people.

2. (law, of a clause in a testament) Being or pertaining to a derogatory clause.

In common language, particularly used in the phrase “derogatory term”, where it is equivalent to less common pejorative, and in “derogatory statements”, equivalent to more casual offensive.

• honorific

• derogatory clause/clause derogatory
• derogatorily

derogatory (plural derogatories)

1. A trade-line on a credit report that includes negative credit history.

• pejorative

• derogate
• derogation

• derogatory in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• derogatory in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.