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Synonyms

preconception

American  
[pree-kuhn-sep-shuhn] / ˌpri kənˈsɛp ʃən /

noun

  1. a conception or opinion formed beforehand.

  2. bias.


preconception British  
/ ˌpriːkənˈsɛpʃən /

noun

  1. an idea or opinion formed beforehand

  2. a bias; prejudice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • preconceptional adjective

Etymology

Origin of preconception

First recorded in 1615–25; pre- + conception

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"People have a preconception about children like Jake and he’s blown that out the water," he said.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024

Future research can investigate additional variables like sleep quality or neighborhood safety as well as the effect of preconception stress on the baby's health.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2024

“I do know there’s this preconception that the festival is a little more of a film nerd thing,” Huntsinger says.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Where Young pushed against the preconception that all Native American music included the chants and drums of powwows, Joe Rainey leaned into the typecasting.

From New York Times • Aug. 15, 2022

Then there are others where fable, myth, preconception, love, longing, or prejudice step in and so distort a cool, clear appraisal that a kind of high-colored magical confusion takes permanent hold.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck