prejudice

noun

1. (countable)An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge of the facts.

   “Many of the inhabitants of our Eastern States refuse to eat Squirrels of any kind, from some prejudice or other; but we can assure our readers that the flesh of this species, and many others, is both tender and well-flavoured, and when nicely broiled, does not require a hunter’s appetite to recommend it.”

   “Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man.”

2. (countable)A preconception, any preconceived opinion or feeling, whether positive or negative.

   “Morality is but a prejudice.”

3. (countable)An irrational hostile attitude, fear or hatred towards a particular group, race or religion.

   “I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.”

   “"I did not thoroughly understand what you were telling your brother," cried Emma, "about your friend Mr. Graham's intending to have a bailiff from Scotland, to look after his new estate. But will it answer? Will not the old prejudice be too strong?"”

4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Knowledge formed in advance; foresight, presaging.

   “[…] the first did in the forepart sit, / That nought mote hinder his quicke preiudize: / He had a sharpe foresight, and working wit […]”

5. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment.

   “England and France might, through their amity, / Breed him some prejudice.”

   “For Pens, so usefull for Scholars to note the remarkables they read, with an impression easily deleble without prejudice to the Book.”

   “for no injury is thereby done to any one, no prejudice to another man's goods”

   “We both of us happen’d to know, as well as the Stationer, that Riddlesden the Attorney, was a very Knave. He had half ruin’d Miss Read’s Father by drawing him in to be bound for him. By his Letter it appear’d, there was a secret Scheme on foot to the Prejudice of Hamilton, (Suppos’d to be then coming over with us,) and that Keith was concern’d in it with Riddlesden. [...]”

verb

1. (transitive)To have a negative impact on (someone's position, chances etc.).
2. (transitive)To cause prejudice in; to bias the mind of.

adj

1. (alt-of, pronunciation-spelling)Pronunciation spelling of prejudiced, representing African-American Vernacular English.

   “I’m not what you call an “A” student but I don’t mind school at lease it takes me away from home but the teachers are too prejudice they are mostly Whites and I never got a fair mark out of them.”