Question

Since the invention of social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, to become a friend has changed from the specific meaning of having a face-to-face relationship with someone to the more broad meaning of knowing someone in person or knowing of someone online. What is this an example of?

amelioration

generalization

pejoration

specialization

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Pejoration.

Pejoration refers to a change for the worse or the depreciation of a word's meaning. In this case, it was stated in the passage that becoming friends with someone now has a different meaning because of social networking sites. The passage connotes a negative statement.