preconceived

American  

[pree-kuhn-seevd] / ˌpri kənˈsivd /

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.

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of preconceived

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

Example Sentences

While a paper’s methodology could be more or less rigorous, and data could be tortured into fitting preconceived conclusions, the falsification of an entire study was extraordinary.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From MarketWatch

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From BBC

Related Words

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