French word

préjugé

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁeʒyʒe/

Meaning

  • masculine nounprejudice

Example

Il a des préjugés contre ce pays.

He has a prejudice against that country.

Illustration for préjugé (prejudice)

More examples

Les préjugés empêchent souvent une discussion ouverte.

Prejudices often prevent an open discussion.

Core concept

A verdict stamped onto a person or group before the facts are properly known.

Common phrases

  • avoir des préjugés

    have prejudices

  • combattre les préjugés

    fight prejudice

  • préjugé racial

    racial prejudice

Similar words

stéréotype: A fixed, oversimplified image applied to a particular social group.
idée reçue: A widely held belief or assumption with little supporting evidence.
biais: A tendency that distorts judgment, observation, or conclusions.
discrimination: Unfair treatment or denial of opportunities based on a personal attribute.

Definition in French

Jugement négatif porté sans connaissance suffisante, souvent appliqué à une personne ou à un groupe.

Word origin

The noun préjugé comes through Old French from Latin praeiudicium, built from prae- meaning 'before' and iudicium meaning 'judgment'.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern is avoir des préjugés contre followed by a person, group, or place.

Other meanings

  • preconceptionnoun

Opposites

  • tolérancetolerancenoun
  • impartialitéimpartialitynoun

Related words

  • préjugerprejudgeverb
  • préjugementprejudgmentnoun

Word lists with this word