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Prejudicing Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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prejudicing

[ˈprɛdʒədɪsɪŋ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Prejudicing refers to causing harm to someone's legal rights or interests, typically occurring in legal cases or disputes. It can happen when a party takes actions that negatively impact another party, leading to unfair advantages or disadvantages during judicial proceedings. This term is often used in discussions around the fairness of trials where one party may be prejudiced against the other due to bias or improper evidence.

Synonyms

bias, harm, injure.

Examples of usage

  • The judge ruled that the new evidence could prejudicing the jury's decision.
  • Her comments in the media were seen as prejudicing the public opinion.
  • The attorney argued that the late submission of evidence was prejudicing his client's case.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Cognitive biases often lead individuals to prejudging others, affecting decision-making processes and social interactions.
  • Studies show that first impressions can be formed within seconds but can be misleading and based on stereotypes.
  • Confirmation bias means people tend to favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs about a person or group.

Social Impact

  • Prejudicing can lead to discrimination, affecting opportunities in jobs, education, and personal relationships.
  • Stereotyping individuals based on their race, gender, or background is a common outcome of prejudicing and can perpetuate social inequality.
  • Campaigns promoting diversity aim to combat prejudicing by educating individuals on the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Literature

  • Many literary works explore themes of prejudicing, highlighting the consequences of basing judgments on assumptions rather than facts.
  • Classic novels like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' illustrate the impact of prejudicing on justice and social integrity.
  • The concept of 'prejudice' is often a central conflict in narratives, driving character development and moral lessons.

Pop Culture

  • Films such as 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' confront prejudging based on race and the misunderstandings that arise from it.
  • Reality TV often showcases the pitfalls of prejudicing, where initial biases lead to conflict and drama among contestants.
  • Social media platforms can amplify prejudging, as users may form opinions based on limited posts or comments without context.

Origin of 'prejudicing'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Latin 'praejudicium', meaning 'pre-judgment', indicating a decision made before all evidence is considered.
  • Medieval Latin adapted the term to describe judgments made without full knowledge, especially in legal contexts.
  • The prefix 'pre-' denotes 'before', and 'judice' is derived from 'judicium', meaning 'judgment'.

The term 'prejudice' originates from the Latin word 'praejudicium', which means 'previous judgment' or 'injury'. It is formed from the prefix 'prae-' meaning 'before' and 'judicium', meaning 'judgment'. Historically, the term was used in legal contexts to denote a judgment made in advance, often without sufficient evidence or knowledge of the case. Over time, it broadened to refer to any preconceived opinion that negatively affects one's understanding of a subject or individual. The verb form 'prejudicing' evolved to describe the act of causing such premature judgments or biases, especially in legal situations.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,068 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.