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preconceived notion

American  
[pree-kuhn-seevd noh-shuhn] / ˈpri kənˌsivd ˈnoʊ ʃən /

noun

  1. an idea or judgment about something formed before encountering any evidence or firsthand information.

    It’s important to note the obstacles, but we don't want to begin with the preconceived notion that this project is simply undoable.

    Even back then, she wasn’t deterred by the naysayers and their preconceived notions about what careers women could or couldn't have.

Etymology

Origin of preconceived notion

First recorded in 1650–60

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.

A lot of times guests came in with some sort of preconceived notion for how it would go and then had their minds changed just over the course of doing the interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2025

Truthfully, I had never been there before until we went to shoot there, so I sort of love that, when I go to a city with very little preconceived notion of the food scene.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 2024

Laz Alonso recalled his days as an aspiring actor trying to break into the industry with the preconceived notion that all actors were rich.

From Reuters • Jul. 4, 2023

Jurors are supposed to assess the case on its merits, not their preconceived notion of the defendant.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2023

In our own daily life, are we not familiar with the fact that what actually happens is very different from our preconceived notion of it?

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.