derogation

[ der-uh-gey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of weakening, lessening, or taking away power or authority:

   Nixon’s impeachment was based in part on his bombing campaign in Cambodia and the resulting derogation of the power of the Congress to declare war.

2. a limit, retraction, or removal, especially of a law or right:

   In some circumstances, derogations of the right of access to a lawyer may be necessary.

3. the act of belittling or disparaging a person or thing:

   The derogation of the author’s credentials is sadly typical of today’s anti-intellectual atmosphere.

Other Words From

• non·der·o·ga·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of derogation¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from French dérogation, from Latin dērogātiōn-, stem of dērogātiō “a repeal, restriction”; derogate ( def ), -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

But the bad management of the French farmers is no derogation from the just praise of its rich soil.

From Project Gutenberg

They did not possess it; they were born into some tendency to derogation, into an inclination for things mentally inexpensive.

From Project Gutenberg

Never before was a time when derogation was always so near, a daily danger, or when the reward of resisting it was so great.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps I may, without derogation from the dignity of my subject, speak of the endowment as partly personal and partly entailed.

From Project Gutenberg

To do little things instead of big may be a derogation; a great deal will depend upon the way the little things are done.

From Project Gutenberg