Prejudice
/ˈprɛdʒʊdɪs/noun
A preconceived opinion or judgment about a person or group, often based on stereotypes.
Did you know?The very act of forming a prejudice was once seen as a dangerous spell against the fabric of social harmony, invoking the wrath of the Fates.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰew-
“to put, to place, to set”
Latin
Latin
praeiudicium
“a judgment or opinion formed beforehand, often unjustly”
Old French
Old French
prejudice
“a prior judgment or decision, often infused with bias”
Middle English
Middle English
prejudice
“an opinion or judgment formed without knowledge or examination, often leading to bias”
Modern English
English
prejudice
“a preconceived notion or judgment, typically unfounded, affecting fairness and understanding”