What does prejudiced mean?
Prejudiced describes someone or something shaped by an unfair opinion held in advance, especially toward a person or group. The word suggests that judgment is being influenced by bias, prejudice, or hostility rather than by evidence, experience, or impartial consideration. It can refer to an individual, as in “a prejudiced juror,” or to attitudes and expressions, as in “prejudiced comments.” The term is commonly used with “against,” as in “prejudiced against immigrants,” and with “toward” or “in favour of” when identifying a particular direction of bias. In everyday use, prejudiced is negative and more forceful than words such as partial, while it overlaps with terms like biased, bigoted, and narrow-minded. Its force lies in the suggestion that the opinion precedes—and prevents—a fair assessment.
adjectiveHaving or displaying an unfair or biased opinion about someone or something, often based on prejudice rather than evidence or fair assessment.
- Having or displaying an unfair, biased, or hostile attitude toward a person, group, or idea.
"Her prejudiced remarks unfairly cast doubt on the entire group."
"The interviewer was accused of being prejudiced against candidates from minority backgrounds."
"The discussion became prejudiced as participants began making sweeping generalizations."
Prejudice literally means a judgment made before considering the evidence—and that idea still shapes how the word works today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prejudiced come from?
The word comes from the Latin praejudicium, a legal term meaning a judgment made before the case is heard, formed from prae-, meaning “before,” and judicium, meaning “judgment.” English borrowed prejudice in the late Middle English period in the sense of preliminary judgment or disadvantage. The adjective developed from this history, retaining the idea of a judgment formed in advance and therefore potentially unfair.
Related word forms
How prejudiced is actually used
Prejudiced is strongly evaluative and generally means that someone is unfairly biased. It is often used with “against,” “toward,” or “in favour of,” and can describe a person, attitude, opinion, view, or conduct.
Easily confused with prejudiced
Prejudiced means influenced by an unfair bias, whereas prejudicious means showing prejudice or disadvantage, often in a more formal or general sense.