Prejudice

Prejudice

Noun · /ˈpreʤʊdɪs/ · a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience

Definition

Prejudice is a preconceived judgement or opinion formed without adequate knowledge, reason, or evidence. It is a bias — typically unfavourable — toward a person, group, or thing based on factors such as race, gender, religion, nationality, or social class rather than on actual experience or rational assessment. As a legal term, prejudice means harm or detriment to someone's rights or interests. As a verb, to prejudice means to cause harm or disadvantage to someone.

Origin

From Old French prejudice, from Latin praeiudicium — a prior judgement — from prae (before) + iudicium (judgement), itself from iudex (judge). The word entered English in the 13th century. Its original sense was simply a previous judgement or a legal ruling made in advance. Over time it narrowed to its modern meaning: a judgement made before the facts are known, and typically maintained against the facts.