PREJUDICE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Prejudice

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/prˈɛdʒədɪs/ Listen

noun

Prejudice n.

1.

Foresight. (Obs.) "Naught might hinder his quick prejudize."

2.

An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge. "Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man."

3.

(Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.

4.

Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. "England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice."

Synonyms: Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.

verb

Prejudice v. t. (past & past part. prejudiced; pres. part. prejudicing)

1.

To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman. "Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning."

2.

To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause. "Seek how may prejudice the foe."

See images of 'Prejudice'

Etymology of 'Prejudice'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Prejudice" Quotes from Famous Books

... have written to Mr. Barclay to obtain the consent of his creditors. This is the footing on which this matter stands at present. I have stated it thus particularly, that you may know the truth, which will probably be misrepresented in the English papers, to the prejudice of Mr. Barclay. This matter has been a great affliction to him, but no dishonor, where its true state is known. Indeed he is incapable of ...

— The Writings of Thomas Jefferson - Library Edition - Vol. 6 (of 20) • Thomas Jefferson

... they stood in, the cause they were engaged in, and the crisis then ready to burst, which should determine their personal and political fate and that of their country, and probably of Europe, are taken into one view, none but a heart callous with prejudice or corrupted by dependence can avoid interesting ...

— The Writings Of Thomas Paine, Complete - With Index to Volumes I - IV • Thomas Paine

... dust of the desert do you think I am carrying upon me? Let your answer be without prejudice. Friendship in this case must not stand in ...

— The Texan Star - The Story of a Great Fight for Liberty • Joseph A. Altsheler

... worked valiantly to extend that acquaintance by his articles in the Edinburgh and Foreign Review, and by his translations from German romance. But he found among English readers an invincible prejudice against German mysticism and German sentimentality. The romantic chiaroscuro, which puzzled Southey even in "The Ancient Mariner," became dimmest twilight in Tieck's "Maehrchen" and midnight darkness ...

— A History of English Romanticism in the Nineteenth Century • Henry A. Beers

... prepared the coffee, I asked the corporal whether she allowed smoking in her bedroom. She did, so I gave him a cigarette and he admired my case saying it was sympathetic. I also gave Ivanhoe a cigarette, but Filomena did not smoke. There is a prejudice against ladies smoking in Sicily unless they wish to be considered as belonging either to the very highest or to the very lowest class, and Filomena is content to belong to her own class. So she looked on while we smoked and ...

— Castellinaria - and Other Sicilian Diversions • Henry Festing Jones

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