derogate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "derogate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something being treated or spoken of in a disrepectful way. Here is an example sentence: The professor's derogatory remarks about his students' work was unacceptable.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

To do this, Britain has had to derogate from Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights guaranteeing the right to liberty and a fair trial.

The Economist

The government might also argue that, as case law and precedent have extended the ECHR to combat operations with perverse results, Britain should derogate from the convention during operational deployments.

The Economist

Whereas early research emphasized how groups expect and enforce loyalty and conformity, sometimes resulting in phenomena such as groupthink, they do not always derogate deviants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Portuguese psychologist José Marques and colleagues demonstrated a black sheep effect, whereby people derogate deviants in their own groups relatively more than deviants in other groups.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Italian," "French," "Latino," "Bulgarian," or other ethnic-style gestures intended to demean, impugn, or otherwise derogate opponent by casting aspersions on opponent's manhood, abilities as lover, or cuckold status are prohibited.

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet "Italian," "French," "Latino," "Bulgarian," or other ethnic-style gestures intended to demean, impugn, or otherwise derogate opponent by casting aspersions on opponent's manhood, abilities as lover, or cuckold status are prohibited.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

But the judges said that David Blunkett, the home secretary, was wrong to opt out of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (which bans detention without trial) without also, in the jargon, "derogating" from Article 14 (which bans discrimination on the grounds of race or nationality).

The Economist

The New Testament of Christianity in some instances derogates myths by describing them as "godless" and "silly".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yaoi is a self-derogating acronym derived from the Japanese phrase "yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi" ("no climax, no point, no meaning"), which was coined in the nineteen-eighties to identify sentimental stories about beautiful adolescent boys.

The New Yorker

People who insist on following supposed rules are effectively "derogating those who don't keep the faith, much like the crowds who denounced witches, class enemies, and communists out of fear that they would be denounced first".

The New Yorker

More than any major candidate in recent times, Mr. Santorum has derogated the federal government on religious grounds.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "derogate" in formal contexts when you intend to convey a specific sense of diminishing or detracting from something, particularly rights, laws, or status. Consider the audience as the term might not be familiar to all readers.

Common error

Avoid using "derogate" when you mean "derogatory". "Derogate" is a verb meaning to detract or diminish, while "derogatory" is an adjective describing something that expresses a low opinion or insult. For example, instead of saying "He derogated her comments", say "His comments were derogatory."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "derogate" is as a verb. It signifies the action of diminishing, detracting, or partially repealing something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in various contexts, particularly in legal and political discussions, as seen in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "derogate" is a verb that means to diminish, detract, or partially repeal, typically used in formal contexts, particularly in discussions of laws, rights, or status. Ludwig AI's analysis shows that it's grammatically correct, though less common in everyday conversation. Its primary function is to express a reduction in importance or authority, often with a negative connotation. While it's often used in News & Media and Encyclopedias, it is crucial not to confuse "derogate" with the adjective "derogatory", which describes something expressing a low opinion. Using alternatives like "detract from" or "belittle" may be more appropriate for a broader audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detract from

Focuses on reducing the value or importance of something.

belittle

Emphasizes making someone or something seem unimportant.

disparage

Highlights speaking negatively about something or someone.

minimize

Focuses on reducing the perceived significance of something.

repeal partially

Specifically refers to the partial revocation of a law.

devalue

Indicates a reduction in worth or importance.

undermine

Implies weakening or destabilizing something gradually.

weaken

Focuses on reducing the strength or effectiveness of something.

lessen

Indicates a decrease in quantity, size, or intensity.

compromise

Suggests a reduction in quality or integrity.

FAQs

How to use "derogate" in a sentence?

You can use "derogate" to mean to detract from something. For instance, "The new policy may "derogate from" established rights".

What does "derogate from" mean?

"Derogate from" means to detract or deviate from a standard, principle, or law. It suggests a weakening or partial abandonment of the original thing. This often appears when referring to international conventions like the European Convention on Human Rights.

What can I say instead of "derogate"?

You can use alternatives like "detract from", "belittle", or "disparage" depending on the context.

Is "derogate" the same as "violate"?

While both "derogate" and "violate" involve not adhering to a standard, they are not interchangeable. "Derogate" implies a partial reduction or weakening of something, while "violate" implies a complete breach or transgression.