- prejudice
- prejudice [prej′ə dis]n.[ME < MFr < L praejudicium < prae-, before (see PRE-) + judicium, judgment < judex (gen. judicis), JUDGE]1. a judgment or opinion formed before the facts are known; preconceived idea, favorable or, more usually, unfavorable2.a) a judgment or opinion held in disregard of facts that contradict it; unreasonable bias [a prejudice against modern art]b) the holding of such judgments or opinions3. suspicion, intolerance, or irrational hatred of other races, creeds, regions, occupations, etc.4. injury or harm resulting as from some judgment or action of another or othersvt.prejudiced, prejudicing1. to injure or harm, as by some judgment or action2. to cause to have or show prejudice; bias——————without prejudice1. without detriment or injury2. Law without dismissal of or detriment to (a legal right, claim, etc.): often with toSYN.- PREJUDICE implies a preconceived and unreasonable judgment or opinion, usually an unfavorable one marked as by suspicion, fear, or hatred [a murder motivated by race prejudice]; BIAS implies a mental leaning in favor of or against someone or something [few of us are without bias of any kind ]; PARTIALITY implies an inclination to favor a person or thing because of strong fondness or attachment [the conductor's partiality for the works of Brahms ]; PREDILECTION implies a preconceived liking, formed as a result of one's background, temperament, etc., that inclines one to a particular preference [he has a predilection for murder mysteries ]
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.