View synonyms for

preconceived

[ pree-kuhn-seevd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

(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

the simple past tense and past participle of preconceive.

Discover More

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

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I came without any sort of preconceived idea and I made a point of not reading up about it, I just wanted to take the atmosphere in, and feel it."

From

Drop any preconceived notions about the city and its people.

From

But Parthenope also knows how to gently, and with a teasing smile, push back at anyone’s preconceived notions about who she is, and what she is or isn’t thinking.

From

They started broadly and tossed preconceived notions about what the exhibition should look like.

From

Her interview with The Times is one of the first she’s done, other than for book publishing sites, so she confesses she hasn’t formed preconceived answers, nor considered any missing parts.

From

Related Words

preconceive preconceived notion

Browse