HOME · SHOP · EDUCATION · PRESS ROOM · CONTACT US ·

ASK THE EXPERTS · BETTER WRITING · WORLD OF WORDS · GAMES · GLOBAL ENGLISH · FOREIGN LANGUAGES

SELECT VIEW

You are currently in the UK view

Frequently Asked Questions

Spelling

Why can't I find the word 'perjorative' in my dictionary?

Printer Friendly Version

Because it is spelled pejorative. This word does not contain the prefix per-, but is derived from the Latin word peior or pejor meaning 'worse'.

Other questions in this section:

'Fayre', 'fair', and 'fare': which is which?
Are spellings like 'privatize' and 'organize' Americanisms?
Can 'cannot' also be written as two words 'can not'?
How do you spell 'poppadom'?
Is there an apostrophe in the plural of pizza?
What is the correct way to spell e words such as 'email', 'ebusiness', 'egovernment'?
What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'?
What is the difference between 'learnt' and 'learned'?
When is it correct to use a hyphen?
Which is correct 'caster sugar' or 'castor sugar'?
Why can't I find the word 'perjorative' in my dictionary?
Why is 'ye' used instead of 'the' in antique English?
Why is the letter 'f' used instead of 's' in old-fashioned spellings?

Can't find the answer to your English Language question?
Browse Oxford's extensive range of language reference titles, or
Send your query to the Oxford Word and Language Service

	Collective Terms for Animals
	Frequently Asked Questions
	Jargon Buster

		AskOxford Shop

		External Web Links

		OUP Website

		Children's Dictionaries

		ELT Dictionaries

		Oxford Online

Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary

Frequently Asked Questions

Spelling

Why can't I find the word 'perjorative' in my dictionary?

Other questions in this section:

Collective Terms for Animals

Frequently Asked Questions

Jargon Buster