Prejudiced: meaning, definitions and examples

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prejudiced

 

[ ˈprɛdʒədɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

in social interactions

Having or showing an unreasonable dislike or distrust of a particular group, typically based on race, religion, or gender.

Synonyms

biased, bigoted, discriminatory.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
prejudiced

This word is used when someone has a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. It is often applied to individuals who hold unfair views about people based on their race, gender, religion, or other characteristics. It carries a negative connotation.

  • She was prejudiced against people from that neighborhood
  • His prejudiced views made it difficult for him to work in a multicultural team
biased

This word is used to describe someone who has an unfair preference or inclination towards a particular group, idea, or way of thinking. It can be used in everyday situations and carries a negative connotation.

  • The journalist was biased in favor of the new policy
  • The test results were biased because the researcher didn't randomize the participants
discriminatory

This word refers to actions or policies that treat people unfairly or unequally based on certain characteristics, such as race, gender, or age. It is often used in legal or formal contexts and has a negative connotation.

  • The company was accused of having discriminatory hiring practices
  • Discriminatory laws were abolished to promote equality
bigoted

This word is used when describing someone who is obstinately or unreasonably attached to a belief, especially one that is discriminatory or racist. It is a very strong negative term and is often used to highlight intolerance and hatred.

  • He made several bigoted remarks during the meeting
  • Her bigoted attitude prevented her from accepting people of different ethnicities

Examples of usage

  • He made prejudiced remarks about immigrants.
  • She avoided making eye contact with him, feeling prejudiced against his ethnicity.
  • The prejudiced hiring practices led to a lack of diversity in the workplace.
Context #2 | Adjective

in decision-making

Influenced by preconceived ideas or opinions rather than by reason or actual experience.

Synonyms

partial, prejudicial, unfair.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
prejudiced

Describes someone who has preconceived opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience, often towards people or groups.

  • He is prejudiced against people from other countries.
  • The manager's prejudiced attitude affected his hiring decisions.
prejudicial

Describes something that causes harm or damage, especially to someone's rights or a fair process, often implying a negative impact.

  • His actions were prejudicial to the company’s reputation.
  • The error in the report had a prejudicial effect on the investigation.
partial

Used when someone shows favoritism or bias towards one side, person, or group, often in a situation where neutrality or fairness is expected.

  • The judge must not be partial to either side in the case.
  • Her partial opinion affected the outcome of the competition.
unfair

Used when something is not just, honest, or equitable, often referring to actions, decisions, or situations.

  • It is unfair to blame him for the mistake.
  • The rules of the game were unfair to the new players.

Examples of usage

  • The judge was accused of making a prejudiced ruling based on personal beliefs.
  • Don't be prejudiced against him just because of his appearance.
  • She was prejudiced in favor of traditional methods and resistant to change.

Translations

Translations of the word "prejudiced" in other languages:

🇵🇹 preconceituoso

🇮🇳 पूर्वाग्रही

🇩🇪 voreingenommen

🇮🇩 berprasangka

🇺🇦 упереджений

🇵🇱 uprzedzony

🇯🇵 偏見を持った

🇫🇷 préjugé

🇪🇸 prejuiciado

🇹🇷 önyargılı

🇰🇷 편견을 가진

🇸🇦 متحيز

🇨🇿 předpojatý

🇸🇰 predpojatý

🇨🇳 有偏见的

🇸🇮 pristranski

🇮🇸 fordómafullur

🇰🇿 алалаған

🇬🇪 წინასწარგანწყობილი

🇦🇿 qərəzli

🇲🇽 prejuiciado

Etymology

The word 'prejudiced' originated in the early 17th century from the past participle of the verb 'prejudge.' It was first used in the context of legal proceedings to refer to a judge forming an opinion on a case before it has been tried based on preconceived notions. Over time, the term expanded to encompass biases in social interactions as well. The concept of being prejudiced has been a topic of much discussion and debate in psychology, sociology, and ethics.

See also: prejudicial, prejudicially, unprejudiced.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,668, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.