# prejudice

/ˈpɹɛdʒədɪs/ (US) · /pɹˈɛdʒuːdɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prejudice
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unfair dislike

noun · CEFR B2

an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of their race, sex, or religion.

For teachers: an irrational hostile attitude or preconceived negative judgment directed toward a particular group, race, or religion.

- The company was accused of prejudice against older workers during the hiring process.
- Deep-seated racial prejudice within the local administration prevented the community from accessing the resources they had been promised.

### 2. preconceived opinion

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

an opinion you form about something before you have enough information.

For teachers: a preconceived opinion or feeling, whether positive or negative, formed without prior knowledge or experience.

- I had a prejudice against the city before I visited, but I actually loved it.
- The researcher struggled to set aside her personal prejudices to ensure the study remained objective and data-driven.

### 3. to influence unfairly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make someone form an unfair opinion about something.

For teachers: to influence someone's opinion so that they may be less able to judge fairly.

- The news reports might prejudice the jury before the trial even begins.
- The judge warned the media that excessive coverage could prejudice the outcome of the trial by influencing potential jurors.

Usage: The verb is transitive and always takes a direct object, often a person or a group's mind.

### 4. to harm or damage

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to do something that has a bad effect on a situation or a person's chances.

For teachers: to cause damage or injury to a person's rights, interests, or legal standing.

- Missing the deadline could prejudice your chances of getting the loan.
- The witness's refusal to testify did not prejudice the defendant's right to a fair hearing under the current statutes.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'without prejudice', meaning without affecting existing rights.

## Examples

- The company works hard to fight prejudice in the workplace.
- Despite her impressive qualifications, she faced deep-seated prejudice during the interview process because of her accent.
- Sociologists argue that systemic prejudice is often reinforced by media portrayals that rely on outdated stereotypes rather than individual merit or lived experience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.