prejudice

[ prej-uh-dis ]

See synonyms for: prejudice prejudiced prejudices on Thesaurus.com

noun

an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.

unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an ethnic, racial, social, or religious group.
such attitudes considered collectively: The war against prejudice is never-ending.
damage or injury; detriment: a law that operated to the prejudice of the majority.

verb (used with object),prej·u·diced, prej·u·dic·ing.

to affect with a prejudice, either favorable or unfavorable: His honesty and sincerity prejudiced us in his favor.

Idioms about prejudice

without prejudice, Law. without dismissing, damaging, or otherwise affecting a legal interest or demand.

Origin of prejudice

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praejūdicium “prejudgment,” originally “preliminary or previous judicial inquiry,” equivalent to prae- pre- + jūdicium “legal proceedings, judging” (jūdic-, stem of jūdex judge + -ium -ium)

synonym study For prejudice

2. See bias.

Other words for prejudice

2	preconception, partiality, predilection, predisposition
6	bias, influence

See synonyms for prejudice on Thesaurus.com

Other words from prejudice

prej·u·diced·ly, adverb
prej·u·dice·less, adjective
non·prej·u·diced, adjective
qua·si-prej·u·diced, adjective

Words that may be confused with prejudice

prejudiced , prejudicial

Words Nearby prejudice

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prejudice in a sentence

They are flesh-and-blood evidence of the ways in which our prejudices and stereotypes hinder the economic stability of the hardest workers and professional advancement of some of this country’s most talented residents.
The sound of a shifting power structure | Robin Givhan | January 13, 2021 | Washington Post
The duke, the lady and the baby-face queen — these characters’ struggles are not framed by slavery or prejudice.
How ‘Bridgerton’ flipped the script on ‘The Duke and I’ | Vanessa Riley | January 12, 2021 | Washington Post
As Hinds and other critics pointed out, the show also explicitly references slavery — so the “fantasy” of this 1813 is still anchored in the reality of systemic prejudice.
The debate over Bridgerton and race | Aja Romano | January 7, 2021 | Vox
For once, death, and the death in life of prejudice, could claim nothing but the skeleton of an old man.
Satchel Paige was one of baseball’s best. It didn’t take an announcement to know that. | Thomas M. Boswell | December 18, 2020 | Washington Post
Quantum mechanics needs no particular interpretation if it is formulated without the preexisting prejudice that nature should exhibit cause-and-effect determinism.
Top 10 questions I’d ask an alien from the Galactic Federation | Tom Siegfried | December 9, 2020 | Science News

I do, however, intend it to sound mean about the reactionary, prejudice-infested place she comes from.
Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie | Michael Tomasky | December 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
A few days ago, he criticized his home state of Alabama for its entrenched prejudice.
Tim Cook: Why ‘I’m Gay’ Isn’t Enough | Tim Teeman | October 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But the exemption was also born of prejudice and discrimination.
Finally, Home Care Workers Start Fighting Back | Monica Potts | October 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
So specious, in fact, that they are increasingly seen to be rationales to cover outdated forms of prejudice.
Catholic University’s Harvey Milk Ban Reflects A Church In Transition | Jay Michaelson | October 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If The Biggest Loser could correct this misconception, it would do a lot to reduce anti-obesity prejudice.
‘The Biggest Loser’ Could Be TV’s Most Important Show Ever | Daniela Drake | September 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Finally, let me ask the general reader to put aside all prejudice, and give both sides a fair hearing.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
Thou fell spirit of pride, prejudice, ignorance, and mauvaise honte!
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 | Various
It is beyond the comprehension of any man not blinded by superstition, not warped by prejudice and old-time convention.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
The last vestige of her prejudice against Indians had melted and gone, in the presence of their simple-hearted friendliness.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
With Monsieur de Lussigny,” he interposed, “it is a matter of prejudice, not of principle.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for prejudice

prejudice

/ (ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs) /

noun

an opinion formed beforehand, esp an unfavourable one based on inadequate facts
the act or condition of holding such opinions

intolerance of or dislike for people of a specific race, religion, etc
disadvantage or injury resulting from prejudice
to the prejudice of to the detriment of
without prejudice law without dismissing or detracting from an existing right or claim

verb(tr)

to cause to be prejudiced
to disadvantage or injure by prejudice

Origin of prejudice

C13: from Old French préjudice, from Latin praejūdicium a preceding judgment, disadvantage, from prae before + jūdicium trial, sentence, from jūdex a judge

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

Cultural definitions for prejudice

prejudice

A hostile opinion about some person or class of persons. Prejudice is socially learned and is usually grounded in misconception, misunderstanding, and inflexible generalizations. In particular, African-Americans have been victims of prejudice on a variety of social, economic, and political levels. (See civil rights movement and segregation.)

Browse