Definition

Noun: A belief or opinion formed about someone or something before having enough information or experience to judge fairly. It is a judgment made in advance, often based on personal bias rather than objective facts.

Usage

A "preconceived notion" is a fixed idea that can prevent objective evaluation. It is typically used in contexts discussing bias, first impressions, research, or analysis. - It often functions as the object of verbs like "have," "challenge," "confirm," or "dispel." - It is commonly modified by adjectives like "strong," "common," "cultural," or "personal."

Examples

• The researcher entered the field study with no preconceived notions about the community's customs.
• You must set aside your preconceived notions to judge the artwork fairly.
• The data did not support his preconceived notion that the new method would be less efficient.
• Her preconceived notion about the difficulty of the task made her overly anxious.

Advanced Usage

• "To be free from preconceived notions": To approach a subject without any pre-existing biases.
  • A good scientist strives to be free from preconceived notions.
• "To operate under a preconceived notion": To act based on an unchallenged, pre-existing belief.
  • The manager was operating under the preconceived notion that older employees resist change.

Variants and Related Words

• Preconception (n): A synonym, often used interchangeably with "preconceived notion." It emphasizes the idea of conceiving an opinion beforehand.
  • She challenged the common preconception about the industry.
• Preconceived idea (n): Another near-identical synonym.
• Prejudice (n): A stronger, usually negative, preconceived opinion that is resistant to change and often leads to discrimination.
• Bias (n): A broader term for an inclination or prejudice for or against something.

Synonyms

• Presupposition: Something assumed to be true beforehand.
• Assumption: Something accepted as true without proof.
• Prejudgment: The act of judging before knowing the facts.

Related Phrases

• A priori notion: A formal or philosophical term for an idea formed from theoretical deduction rather than experience.
• Foregone conclusion: An outcome regarded as inevitable, often due to preconceived notions.

Noun

1. an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence
   • he did not even try to confirm his preconceptions