What does prejudged mean?
Prejudged means that an opinion, decision, or judgment was formed before the relevant evidence or arguments were properly considered. The term commonly implies unfairness: a prejudged verdict, for example, suggests that the outcome was decided in advance rather than reached through impartial evaluation. It is especially common in legal, political, and journalistic language, where it describes a decision affected by prior assumptions, reputation, or prejudice. The word can modify a judgment, opinion, decision, or the people responsible for making it. Although it overlaps with prejudiced and biased, prejudged focuses more directly on the premature formation of a conclusion or outcome. In everyday use, it conveys that someone has reached a verdict too quickly and has therefore failed to give the matter a fair hearing.
Having formed an opinion or decision before considering the relevant evidence or arguments.
"The committee denied that it had prejudged the applicants."
Commonly used in formal contexts and strongly suggests an unfair or premature conclusion.
To form an opinion or make a decision about someone or something before considering the relevant evidence or arguments.
"The newspaper was criticized for prejudging the defendant's guilt."
Less common than the adjective form; use is especially frequent in journalistic and legal discussion.
A prejudged verdict sounds decisive, but it reveals that the evidence was never really given a fair chance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prejudged come from?
Prejudged was formed in the 16th century from the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” and the verb prejudge. The verb itself developed from Latin praejudicium, a legal term meaning a decision or judgment made beforehand, built from prae- (“before”) and judicium (“judgment”). English judge and the related words judicial, judicious, and adjudge belong to the same Latin root, although they developed through different combinations and uses.
Related word forms
How prejudged is actually used
The word is formal and carries a strongly critical tone, implying that a decision or opinion was formed prematurely and unfairly. It is often used in legal, political, and journalistic contexts.
Easily confused with prejudged
Prejudged describes a decision or opinion formed in advance, whereas prejudiced more commonly describes a person whose attitude is biased or unfair.