Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing harm or damage: Having a harmful or damaging effect on someone or something, especially to their rights, interests, or reputation.
   • Involving or showing prejudice: Tending to favor preconceived ideas or unfair judgments; biased.

Usage

The word "prejudicial" is used to describe actions, statements, or situations that are harmful or that demonstrate bias. It is a formal adjective. - It is often followed by the preposition "to" when specifying what is being harmed (e.g., prejudicial to his case). - It can describe something that creates an unfair disadvantage.

Examples

• Causing harm:
  • The judge ruled that the media coverage was prejudicial to a fair trial.
  • Smoking is prejudicial to your health.
• Showing prejudice:
  • The manager was accused of making prejudicial remarks about older employees.
  • The law aims to eliminate prejudicial hiring practices.

Advanced Usage

• "Legally prejudicial": Information or evidence that is so damaging or biased that it could unfairly influence a legal proceeding.
  • The attorney argued that the evidence was legally prejudicial and should be excluded.
• "Prejudicial effect": The harmful or biasing impact of something.
  • The court must weigh the probative value of the evidence against its prejudicial effect.

Variants and Related Words

• Prejudice (n.): A preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience; bias or harm.
  • The campaign fought against racial prejudice.
• Prejudiced (adj.): Having or showing a preconceived opinion or bias.
  • He was accused of being a prejudiced juror.
• Non-prejudicial (adj.): Not causing harm or bias.
  • The parties reached a non-prejudicial settlement agreement.

Synonyms

• Damaging: Causing physical or non-physical harm.
• Detrimental: Tending to cause harm.
• Harmful: Causing or likely to cause harm.
• Biased: Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.
• Injurious: Causing or likely to cause damage or harm.

Antonyms

• Beneficial: Favorable or advantageous.
• Helpful: Giving or ready to give help.
• Fair: Treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination.
• Impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally.

Related Phrases

• To the prejudice of (someone/something): Resulting in harm or disadvantage to.
  • The decision was made to the prejudice of the smaller company.
• Without prejudice: A legal term meaning without detriment to any existing right or claim; used to allow for negotiations or statements that cannot be used as evidence in court.
  • The offer was made without prejudice to allow for further discussion.

Adjective

1. tending to favor preconceived ideas
   • the presence of discriminatory or prejudicial attitudes in the white population
2. (sometimes followed by `to') causing harm or injury
   • damaging to career and reputation
   • the reporter's coverage resulted in prejudicial publicity for the defendant