According to dictionaries, ilk does not necessarily have negative connotations. Derived from a Scottish term meaning the same, the word is synonymous with type and kind, and it’s usually used in phrases like of that ilk or of his/her ilk. It refers to a person’s associates or colleagues. There’s nothing inherently disparaging about this sense of ilk.
But in contemporary usage, ilk has become negative. This is perhaps due to ilk‘s similarity in sound to negative words like ill and ick. The connotations are often subtle, but often when someone refers to a person along with his or her ilk, the is meant in a disparaging or dismissive manner.
Examples
In these examples, ilk is pejorative when read in context:
To Al Gore and his ilk, the weather proves global warming. [Republican American]
Obama and his ilk believe government is the answer and I assure you their intellects are no match when compared with our founding fathers. [Examiner.net]
It’s sad that Sarah Palin and her ilk have more influence on laws dealing with firearms than the president or state leaders. [Morning Sentinel]
Of course, we can still use ilk in its undisparaging sense, but this is becoming increasingly difficult due to the word’s growing negative associations.
