What does prepossessed mean?
Prepossessed means predisposed or already inclined in favor of a person, idea, or outcome, often in a way that suggests an advance bias. A person may be prepossessed in favor of a proposal because of loyalty, prior belief, personal interest, or past experience. The word can also function as a participle of the verb prepossess: a persuasive appearance or argument may prepossess an audience in someone's favor. Although the word occurs in standard British and American English, it sounds more formal and literary than everyday alternatives such as predisposed, partial, or biased. Prepossessed is especially useful when the important point is that a favorable attitude existed before a decision, discussion, or judgment. It should not be confused with preoccupied, which normally means being currently absorbed in a task or thought rather than already inclined toward a particular conclusion.
Already inclined or favorably disposed toward someone or something, especially before consideration or judgment.
"She was too prepossessed in favor of her friend's argument to evaluate it objectively."
Often used in formal or literary prose and frequently implies that a prior inclination may influence judgment.
To cause someone to be favorably disposed toward a person, idea, or course of action.
"The candidate's calm and sincere demeanor prepossessed the interviewers in her favor."
The verb form is chiefly literary and is less common in everyday speech.
The Latin prefix pre- means “before”: to be prepossessed is to be inclined before judgment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prepossessed come from?
Prepossessed was formed in English from the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” and possessed, with the sense of being possessed in advance by a feeling or inclination. The second element ultimately comes from Latin possidere, meaning “to occupy, hold, or own.” Related English words such as possession, possessor, and dispossess belong to the same Latin root, although prepossessed itself is an English formation using the additional prefix pre-.
Related word forms
How prepossessed is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary in modern English. It often carries the connotation that an existing favorable attitude may color someone's judgment, although it can describe a harmless inclination without implying deliberate bias.
Easily confused with prepossessed
Prepossessed describes an inclination or bias that exists beforehand, whereas preoccupied usually means currently absorbed in a person or task.