preconceived

[pree-kuhn-seevd]

adjective

1. (of an idea, opinion, etc.) formed beforehand, as before seeing evidence or as a result of a previously held prejudice.

   By challenging preconceived ideas about how things should be done, an outsider to the business can often identify helpful new strategies.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of preconceive.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preconceived¹

First recorded in 1575–85; preconceive ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective; preconceive ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb

Example Sentences

“I wanted people who would look at data without preconceived notions,” he said.

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“I have no preconceived notions — about anything or anybody, or what their past is and what their NIL money is,” Coyle said.

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There’s an upside for Dyer, too: “It helps that I’m not so plugged in to America’s relationship to the DMV. I don’t have a preconceived notion that people think the place is terrible.”

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Two years later she has signed an contract extension at Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad and wants to challenge preconceived notions from the western world about Saudi Arabia and what life is like for a female athlete.

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Neither Raymond nor I came in with any preconceived ideas whatsoever.

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Related Words

• bigoted 
• discriminatory 
• dogmatic 
• intolerant 
• intransigent 
• one-sided 
• opinionated 
• racist 
• sexist 
• xenophobic