The word, now usually considered pejorative, is derived from a combination of the Latin terms miscere ('to mix') and genus ('race' or 'kind'). Miscegenation ( / m ɪ ˌ s ɛ dʒ ə ˈ n eɪ ʃ ən/ miss- EJ-ə- NAY-shən) is marriage or admixture between people who are considered to be members of different races.