What does depreciatory mean?
'Depreciatory' is a formal adjective used to describe language or attitudes that express a low opinion of someone or something — remarks, tones, or gestures that belittle, undervalue, or dismiss their worth. A manager might make depreciatory comments about a colleague's work, or a reviewer might adopt a depreciatory tone toward a novel they consider second-rate. The word derives from the same Latin root as 'depreciate', which originally meant to lower the price or value of something, so it carries the figurative sense of talking something down as if marking down its price on a shelf. It appears more often in British English than American English, where synonyms such as 'disparaging' or 'derogatory' tend to be preferred. Because it resembles 'deprecatory' — which strictly means expressing disapproval or protest — careful writers sometimes reserve 'depreciatory' specifically for judgments about value rather than outright condemnation. Its connotation is almost always negative toward whatever is being described, though the word itself is neutral and precise.
adjectiveExpressing disapproval or a belief that something is of little value or importance; belittling or disparaging.
- Expressing a low opinion of something or someone; belittling or disparaging.
- (Less common) Tending to diminish or undervalue the worth or importance of something.
"He dismissed the proposal with a few depreciatory remarks about its cost and practicality."
"Her depreciatory comments about the new hire were overheard by the entire office."
"The critic wrote in a dry, depreciatory style that made even praised films sound faintly ridiculous."
Though it sounds like an accounting term, 'depreciatory' has nothing to do with tax write-offs — it describes words that quietly mark something down in value.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of depreciatory
'Depreciatory' comes from the verb 'depreciate', which entered English from Medieval Latin 'depretiare' ('to lower the price of'), formed from 'de-' ('down') and 'pretium' ('price') — the same Latin noun that gives us 'price', 'precious', and 'praise'. The adjective developed in the early modern period alongside the verb, first carrying the literal sense of lowering monetary value before extending figuratively to speech that lowers someone or something in esteem. Its cognates include 'appreciate', literally to set a price upon and hence to recognize worth.
Related word forms
How depreciatory is actually used
Formal in register; more common in British English than American English, where 'disparaging' or 'derogatory' are often preferred. It is frequently confused in form with 'deprecatory', though in everyday use the two overlap considerably.
Easily confused with depreciatory
Depreciatory means belittling or expressing low regard for something's worth, while deprecatory means expressing strong disapproval or protest, as in 'deprecatory prayers' seeking to avert evil.