Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense prejudices, present participle prejudicing, past tense, past participle prejudiced
1. variable noun
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another.
Ghaffur alleged that he was repeatedly subjected to racial prejudice.
There is widespread prejudice against workers over 45.
He said he hoped the Swiss authorities would investigate the case thoroughly andwithout prejudice.
2. verb
If you prejudice someone or something, you influence them so that they are unfair in some way.
I think your South American youth has prejudiced you. [VERB noun]
The report was held back for fear of prejudicing his trial. [VERB noun]
He claimed his case would be prejudiced if it became known he was refusing to answerquestions. [VbeV-ed]
Synonyms: bias, influence, colour, poison More Synonyms of prejudice
3. verb
If someone prejudices another person's situation, they do something which makes it worse than it should be.
[formal]
Her study was not in any way intended to prejudice the future development of thecollege. [VERB noun]
They claim the council has prejudiced their health by failing to deal with asbestos. [VERB noun]
4.
See without prejudice to
More Synonyms of prejudice
prejudice in British English
(ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs)
noun
1.
an opinion formed beforehand, esp an unfavourable one based on inadequate facts
2.
the act or condition of holding such opinions
3.
intolerance of or dislike for people of a specific race, religion, etc
4.
disadvantage or injury resulting from prejudice
5. to the prejudice of
6. without prejudice
verb(transitive)
7.
to cause to be prejudiced
8.
to disadvantage or injure by prejudice
Word origin
C13: from Old French préjudice, from Latin praejūdicium a preceding judgment, disadvantage, from prae before + jūdicium trial, sentence, from jūdex a judge
prejudice in American English
(ˈprɛdʒədɪs)
noun
1.
a judgment or opinion formed before the facts are known; preconceived idea, favorable or, more usually, unfavorable
2.
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 opinions
3.
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 others
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈprejudiced or ˈprejudicing
5.
to injure or harm, as by some judgment or action
6.
to cause to have or show prejudice; bias
Idioms:
without prejudice
SYNONYMY NOTE: prejudice implies a preconceived and unreasonable judgment or opinion, usually an unfavorableone 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]
Word origin
ME < MFr < L praejudicium < prae-, before (see pre-) + judicium, judgment < judex (gen. judicis), judge
COBUILD Collocations
prejudice
class prejudice
overcome prejudice
racial prejudice
reinforce prejudice
Examples of 'prejudice' in a sentence
prejudice
Name one country in history where bolstering people in their prejudices has turned out for the best.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You do not judge this case on any prejudice or any sympathy on either side.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Removing the captaincy does not prejudice case.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The second source of prejudice is peer groups.
Christianity Today (2000)
My biggest enemy was discrimination and prejudice.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Judges are supposed to be impartial and immune to influence or prejudice from outside the courtroom.
The Sun (2014)
Details of the grounds of appeal cannot be reported so as not to prejudice the new trial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People with a particular prejudice should not read any further.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That society had a lot of different modes and different opinions and different prejudices.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We therefore should not treat them with prejudice and fear but with care and understanding.
Aiken, Nick Working with Teenagers (1994)
Simply seeing white strangers interacting positively with ethnic minorities reduces racial prejudice.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The survey also showed white people thought racial prejudice was getting worse.
The Sun (2008)
And about tackling the discrimination and prejudice many still have to endure.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Could subliminal prejudice influence some voters and therefore the election and the future of global politics?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Only that way will the prejudices end.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They preferred to have their prejudices and fears about the native people confirmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Put your prejudices to one side.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His lawyers will argue it prejudiced his case, but was so old it should not have been mentioned.
The Sun (2008)
In so doing she had not merely risked prejudice to the due administration of justice, but had caused prejudice to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If we are going to insist on banning people from fighting, it should be done on the basis of individual health, not group prejudice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
Drive out prejudices through the door, and they will return through the windowFrederick the Greatletter to Voltaire
prejudice: a vagrant opinion without visible means of supportAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
Who's 'im, Bill? A stranger! 'Eave 'arf a brick at 'imPunch
In other languages
prejudice
British English: prejudice /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/ NOUN
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of someone or something, or an unreasonable preference for one group over another.
...racial prejudice.
American English: prejudice
Arabic: إجْحَاف
Brazilian Portuguese: preconceito
Chinese: 偏见
Croatian: predrasuda
Czech: předsudek
Danish: fordom
Dutch: vooroordeel
European Spanish: prejuicio
Finnish: ennakkoluulo
French: préjugé
German: Vorurteil
Greek: προκατάληψη
Italian: pregiudizio
Japanese: 偏見
Korean: 편견
Norwegian: fordom
Polish: uprzedzenie
European Portuguese: preconceito
Romanian: prejudecată
Russian: предубеждение
Latin American Spanish: prejuicio
Swedish: fördom
Thai: อคติ
Turkish: önyargı
Ukrainian: упередження
Vietnamese: định kiến
British English: prejudice VERB
If you prejudice someone or something, you influence them so that they are unfair in some way.
I think your upbringing has prejudiced you.
American English: prejudice
Brazilian Portuguese: imbuir com preconceito
Chinese: 使…有偏见
European Spanish: perjudicar
French: influencer
German: beeinträchtigen
Italian: condizionare
Japanese: 偏見を抱かせる
Korean: 악영항을 끼치다
European Portuguese: imbuir com preconceito
Latin American Spanish: perjudicar
All related terms of 'prejudice'
class prejudice
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another.
overcome prejudice
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another.
racial prejudice
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another.
without prejudice
without dismissing or detracting from an existing right or claim
reinforce prejudice
Prejudice is an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things, or a preference for one group of people or things over another.
without prejudice to
If you take an action without prejudice to an existing situation, your action does not change or harm that situation.
prejudice against/in favour of sb对(對)某人有偏见(見)/偏爱(愛)某人 (duì mǒurén yǒu piānjiàn/piān'ài mǒurén)
without prejudice to (frm) 无(無)损(損)于(於) (wú sǔn yú)
to prejudice sb against/in favour of sth使某人对(對)某事抱有偏见(見)/怀(懷)有好感 (shǐ mǒurén duì mǒushì bào yǒu piānjiàn/huái yǒu hǎogǎn)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act or condition of holding such opinions
a victim of racial prejudice
Synonyms
discrimination
measures to counteract discrimination
racism
The party is pandering to racism.
injustice
They will continue to fight injustice.
sexism
intolerance
an act of religious intolerance
bigotry
He deplored religious bigotry.
unfairness
chauvinism
narrow-mindedness
faith hate
2 (noun)
Definition
an unreasonable or unfair dislike or preference
the deep cultural prejudices I inherited as a child
Synonyms
bias
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
preconception
his preconceptions about the sort of people who work in computing
partiality
The judge was accused of partiality.
preconceived notion
warp
jaundiced eye
prejudgment
3 (noun)
Definition
harm or detriment
I feel sure it can be done without prejudice to anybody's principles.
Synonyms
harm
It would probably do the economy more harm than good.
damage
There have been many reports of minor damage to buildings.
hurt
I am sorry for any hurt that it may have caused.
disadvantage
An attempt to prevent an election would be to their disadvantage.
loss
His death is a great loss to us.
mischief
The conference was a platform to cause political mischief.
detriment
He supported his partner's career to the detriment of his own.
impairment
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause (someone) to have a prejudice
I think your upbringing has prejudiced you.
Synonyms
bias
We mustn't allow it to bias our teaching.
influence
The conference influenced us to launch the campaign.
colour
The attitude of parents colours the way their children behave.
poison
ill-feeling that will poison further negotiations
distort
The media distorts reality.
sway
warp
slant
The coverage was deliberately slanted to make the home team look good.
predispose
Some factors predispose certain individuals to criminal behaviour.
jaundice
prepossess
2 (verb)
Definition
to harm
He claimed that the media coverage had prejudiced his chance of a fair trial.
Synonyms
harm
a warning that the product may harm the environment
damage
The strong winds damaged the fence.
hurt
They don't want to hurt their own careers.
injure
A bomb exploded, seriously injuring five people.
mar
A number of problems marred the smooth running of the event.
undermine
This will undermine their chances of success.
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
impair
The bright sunshine was impairing my vision.
hinder
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
Quotations
Drive out prejudices through the door, and they will return through the window [Frederick the Great – letter to Voltaire]prejudice: a vagrant opinion without visible means of support [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]Who's 'im, Bill? A stranger! 'Eave 'arf a brick at 'im [Punch]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bigotry
He deplored religious bigotry.
Synonyms
intolerance,
discrimination,
racism,
prejudice,
bias,
ignorance,
injustice,
sexism,
unfairness,
xenophobia,
chauvinism,
fanaticism,
sectarianism,
jingoism,
racialism,
dogmatism,
faith hate,
provincialism,
narrow-mindedness,
mindlessness,
pig-ignorance (slang),
illiberality
in the sense of colour
Definition
to influence or distort
The attitude of parents colours the way their children behave.
Synonyms
influence,
affect,
prejudice,
distort,
pervert,
taint,
slant
in the sense of damage
Definition
injury or harm caused to a person or thing
There have been many reports of minor damage to buildings.
Synonyms
destruction,
harm,
loss,
injury,
suffering,
hurt,
ruin,
crushing,
wrecking,
shattering,
devastation,
detriment,
mutilation,
impairment,
annihilation,
ruination
Synonyms of 'prejudice'
prejudice
Explore 'prejudice' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of damage
Definition
to harm or injure
The strong winds damaged the fence.
Synonyms
spoil,
hurt,
injure,
smash,
harm,
ruin,
crush,
devastate,
mar,
wreck,
shatter,
weaken,
gut,
demolish,
undo,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
impair,
ravage,
mutilate,
annihilate,
incapacitate,
raze,
deface,
play (merry) hell with (informal)
in the sense of detriment
Definition
disadvantage or damage
He supported his partner's career to the detriment of his own.
Synonyms
damage,
loss,
harm,
injury,
hurt,
prejudice,
disadvantage,
impairment,
disservice
in the sense of disadvantage
Definition
an unfavourable or harmful circumstance
An attempt to prevent an election would be to their disadvantage.
Synonyms
harm,
loss,
damage,
injury,
hurt,
prejudice,
detriment,
disservice
in the sense of distort
Definition
to alter or misrepresent (facts)
The media distorts reality.
Synonyms
misrepresent,
twist,
bias,
disguise,
pervert,
slant,
colour,
misinterpret,
falsify,
garble
in the sense of hurt
I am sorry for any hurt that it may have caused.
Synonyms
harm,
trouble,
damage,
wrong,
loss,
injury,
misfortune,
mischief,
affliction
in the sense of hurt
They don't want to hurt their own careers.
Synonyms
damage,
harm,
ruin,
mar,
undermine,
wreck,
spoil,
sabotage,
blight,
jeopardize,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of impair
Definition
to damage or weaken in strength or quality
The bright sunshine was impairing my vision.
Synonyms
worsen,
reduce,
damage,
injure,
harm,
mar,
undermine,
weaken,
spoil,
diminish,
decrease,
blunt,
deteriorate,
lessen,
hinder,
debilitate,
vitiate,
enfeeble,
enervate
in the sense of influence
Definition
to persuade or induce
The conference influenced us to launch the campaign.
Synonyms
persuade,
move,
prompt,
urge,
counsel,
induce,
incline,
dispose,
arouse,
sway,
rouse,
entice,
coax,
incite,
instigate,
predispose,
impel,
prevail upon
in the sense of injure
Definition
to hurt physically or mentally
A bomb exploded, seriously injuring five people.
Synonyms
hurt,
wound,
harm,
break,
damage,
smash,
crush,
mar,
disable,
shatter,
bruise,
impair,
mutilate,
maim,
mangle,
mangulate (Australian, slang),
incapacitate
in the sense of injustice
Definition
unfairness
They will continue to fight injustice.
Synonyms
unfairness,
discrimination,
prejudice,
bias,
inequality,
oppression,
intolerance,
bigotry,
favouritism,
inequity,
chauvinism,
iniquity,
partisanship,
partiality,
narrow-mindedness,
one-sidedness,
unlawfulness,
unjustness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intolerance
an act of religious intolerance
Synonyms
narrow-mindedness,
discrimination,
prejudice,
racism,
bigotry,
xenophobia,
chauvinism,
fanaticism,
narrowness,
jingoism,
racialism,
dogmatism,
illiberality
in the sense of loss
Definition
the disadvantage or deprivation resulting from losing
His death is a great loss to us.
Synonyms
damage,
cost,
injury,
hurt,
harm,
disadvantage,
detriment,
impairment
in the sense of mar
Definition
to spoil or be the one bad feature of
A number of problems marred the smooth running of the event.
Synonyms
harm,
damage,
hurt,
spoil,
stain,
blight,
taint,
tarnish,
blot,
sully,
vitiate,
put a damper on
in the sense of mischief
Definition
injury or harm caused by a person or thing
The conference was a platform to cause political mischief.
Synonyms
harm,
trouble,
damage,
injury,
hurt,
evil,
disadvantage,
disruption,
misfortune,
detriment
in the sense of partiality
The judge was accused of partiality.
Synonyms
bias,
preference,
prejudice,
favouritism,
predisposition,
partisanship
in the sense of poison
Definition
to turn (a person's mind) against
ill-feeling that will poison further negotiations
Synonyms
corrupt,
colour,
undermine,
bias,
sour,
pervert,
warp,
taint,
subvert,
embitter,
deprave,
defile,
jaundice,
vitiate,
envenom
in the sense of preconception
his preconceptions about the sort of people who work in computing
Synonyms
preconceived idea or notion,
notion,
prejudice,
bias,
presumption,
predisposition,
presupposition,
prepossession
in the sense of predispose
Definition
to influence (someone) in favour of something
Some factors predispose certain individuals to criminal behaviour.
Synonyms
incline,
influence,
prepare,
prompt,
lead,
prime,
affect,
prejudice,
bias,
induce,
dispose,
sway,
make you of a mind to
in the sense of racism
Definition
the belief that some races are innately superior to others because of hereditary characteristics
The party is pandering to racism.
Synonyms
xenophobia,
bigotry,
racial discrimination,
racial prejudice,
anti-Semitism,
intolerance,
chauvinism,
racialism
in the sense of slant
Definition
to write or present (information) in a biased way
The coverage was deliberately slanted to make the home team look good.
Synonyms
bias,
colour,
weight,
twist,
angle,
distort
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spoil
Definition
to make (something) less valuable, beautiful, or useful
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
Synonyms
ruin,
destroy,
wreck,
damage,
total (slang),
blow (slang),
injure,
upset,
harm,
mar,
scar,
undo,
trash (slang),
impair,
mess up,
blemish,
disfigure,
debase,
deface,
put a damper on,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of undermine
Definition
to weaken gradually or insidiously
This will undermine their chances of success.
Synonyms
damage,
weaken,
threaten,
hurt,
injure,
impair,
sap,
put the kibosh on (informal),
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)