preconceived

[ pree-kuhn-seevd ]

adjective

1. (of an idea, opinion, etc.) formed beforehand, as before seeing evidence or as a result of a previously held prejudice:

   By challenging preconceived ideas about how things should be done, an outsider to the business can often identify helpful new strategies.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of preconceive.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preconceived¹

First recorded in 1575–85; preconceive ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective; preconceive ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb

Example Sentences

“I had all these preconceived notions growing up in the church. They’re perceived as a threat, you know, their lifestyles.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I wanted a character that was not going to be pigeonholed by preconceived notions about what I can or cannot do," she said.

From Salon

He said there were also concerns about the lack of an equality impact assessment and the validity of a questionnaire with "some questions constructed to give a preconceived outcome".

From BBC

Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh related that Straussians filled the Pentagon’s ad hoc Office of Special Plans, and had bulldozed the government’s intelligence agencies in order to cherry-pick dubious evidence to fit their preconceived notions.

From Salon

There are a lot of preconceived, bad ideas about seafood farming.

From Salon

Related Words

• bigoted
• discriminatory
• dogmatic
• intolerant
• intransigent
• one-sided
• opinionated
• racist
• sexist
• xenophobic