Home › Words › D › derogatoryderogatory/dɪˈɹɒɡətɹi/derogatory means disparaging.derogatory is pronounced /dɪˈɹɒɡətɹi/.EtymologyBorrowed from Late Latin dērogātōrius, from Latin dērogō; corresponding to derogate + -ory.adjDisparaging.Tending to derogateTending to derogate:; Reducing the power or value of (a governmental body, etc); detracting from.e.g.“Acts of Parliament derogatory from the power of subsequent Parliaments bind not.” — 1768, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England:Tending to derogate:; Lessening the worth of (a person, etc); expressing derogation; insulting.e.g.“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.” — 2018, Ben Rothenberg, The New York Times:Being or pertaining to a derogatory clause.nounA tradeline on a credit report that indicates negative credit history.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.derogative 89% match — Disparaging; tending or intending to be belittling. vs derogatory →derogatorily 85% match — In a derogatory manner. vs derogatory →derogately 83% match — In a derogatory manner. vs derogatory →derogant 80% match — derogatory vs derogatory →derogatively 79% match — In a derogative way or manner: derogatorily. vs derogatory →disparagingly 78% match — Insultingly. vs derogatory →denigratory 77% match — Tending to denigrate. vs derogatory →derogation 77% match — An act which belittles; disparagement. vs derogatory →