What does prejudging mean?
Prejudging means forming an opinion about a person, issue, case, or outcome before hearing the relevant evidence or considering the matter impartially. The word commonly appears in legal and procedural contexts, such as telling jurors not to prejudge a case, and it often carries a strongly negative connotation: the person is assumed to have reached a fixed conclusion prematurely. More generally, prejudging can mean reaching an early opinion before all facts are available, even when that opinion is not necessarily unfair. The related noun “prejudice” and adjective “prejudicial” reflect the same underlying idea of a judgment made in advance. Understanding this distinction helps separate a provisional impression from an unreasonable assumption that improperly influences a decision.
verbTo form an opinion or judgment about something before hearing the relevant evidence or considering the matter fairly, especially in a way that may bias the outcome.
- Forming an opinion or judgment about a matter before considering the relevant evidence, especially in a way that may bias a decision.
"The jurors were asked not to prejudge the case before hearing all the evidence."
"The jurors were asked not to prejudge the case before hearing all the evidence."
"Her comments risked prejudging the discussion before the proposal had been fully explained."
Prejudging turns an open question into a verdict before the evidence arrives.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prejudging come from?
Prejudging is the present participle and gerund of the English verb “prejudge,” which developed during the early modern period. Its roots lie in Latin praejudicium, meaning a judgment or decision made beforehand, from prae-, meaning “before,” and judicium, meaning “judgment.” The English cognates include “prejudice,” “prejudicial,” and “prejudgment,” all of which preserve the idea of forming or expressing a judgment in advance.
Related word forms
How prejudging is actually used
Prejudging is the present participle and gerund of prejudge. In legal, journalistic, and formal contexts, it usually implies forming an opinion prematurely or in a biased manner. In less formal use, it can simply mean having an early view before all the facts are known.