What does prejudge mean?
Prejudge means to form an opinion or make a judgment about someone or something before considering the evidence properly. In its most common sense, it describes reaching a conclusion in advance, as when a reader prejudges a book or an audience prejudges a performer. In a stronger legal and moral sense, to prejudge a person is to treat them as guilty or culpable before the facts have been established. The word is especially relevant to discussions of juries, trials, public debate, and media coverage, where the appearance of impartiality matters. Its negative connotation makes it a forceful alternative to expressions such as “make up one’s mind.” Because prejudging implies acting without an adequate examination of the relevant information, it is commonly used as a warning: one should hear the evidence before reaching a conclusion.
verbTo form an opinion about someone or something before having sufficient evidence or hearing the relevant arguments. It can also mean to treat someone as guilty or culpable before that determination has been made.
- To form an opinion about someone or something before considering the relevant evidence or arguments.
- To regard or treat someone as guilty or culpable before that conclusion has been established.
"The jurors were warned not to prejudge the case before hearing all the evidence."
"Readers should avoid prejudging the novel before they have read it."
"The comment was criticized for prejudging the defendant before the court had ruled."
To prejudge a case is to decide its outcome before the evidence has even been heard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prejudge come from?
The verb was formed in the late 16th century from the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” and the English verb judge. The underlying vocabulary of judging comes from Latin roots associated with law and judicial decision, reflected in related English forms such as judge, judicial, and judicious. The development of prejudge also runs alongside the noun prejudice, which developed from an earlier sense of an advance judgment or damage caused by a premature decision.
Related word forms
How prejudge is actually used
Prejudge is generally critical when used of judges, jurors, journalists, or members of the public. It carries a strong connotation of forming a premature and unfair judgment; the second sense is especially associated with legal and moral contexts.
Easily confused with prejudge
Prejudge is normally a verb meaning to form or express an opinion in advance, whereas prejudice is a noun meaning a preconceived opinion or bias.