/pej'euh ray"sheuhn, pee'jeuh-/ , n.
1. depreciation; a lessening in worth, quality, etc.
2. Historical Ling. semantic change in a word to a lower, less approved, or less respectable meaning. Cf. melioration (def. 1).
[ 1650-60; pejoration- (s. of pejoratio ) a making worse, equiv. to LL pejorat ( us ) (ptp. of pejorare to make worse, deriv. of pejor worse) + -ion- -ION ]