Prejudgments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of making decisions or assessments before considering all relevant evidence or information
2. Arriving at conclusions about individuals or situations without adequate understanding or exploration of the facts involved
3. Making decisions or opinions before fully examining the facts involved

Etymology: "Prejudgments" is the plural of "prejudgment," a word built in English from the prefix "pre-" ("before") and "judgment." The prefix comes from Latin "prae," meaning "before," which English took in through Latin and French, while "judgment" has its own long history, passing through Old French and Latin before reaching English. The idea is simple enough that the compound needs little explanation: a prejudgment is a conclusion reached ahead of the evidence, and the word spells out exactly that sequence. Its parts are ordinary English materials, so the word is a transparent construction rather than a borrowing. Because the prefix "pre-" attaches freely to existing English nouns, "prejudgment" belongs to a large family of similar formations, and its meaning follows directly from its parts.

Synonyms: preconceptions, biases, stereotypes, prejudice, opinions

Antonyms: open-mindedness, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, neutrality