preconception

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pre·con·cep·tion

(prē′kən-sĕp′shən)

An opinion or conception formed in advance of adequate knowledge or experience, especially a prejudice or bias.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

preconception

(ˌpriːkənˈsɛpʃən)

1. an idea or opinion formed beforehand

2. a bias; prejudice

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pre•con•cep•tion

(ˌpri kənˈsɛp ʃən)

n.

1. a conception or opinion formed beforehand.

2. a prejudice or bias.

[1615–25]

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Noun	1.	preconception - an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence; "he did not even try to confirm his preconceptions" parti pris, preconceived idea, preconceived notion, preconceived opinion, prepossession opinion, persuasion, sentiment, thought, view - a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty; "my opinion differs from yours"; "I am not of your persuasion"; "what are your thoughts on Haiti?"
	2.	preconception - a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation bias, prejudice taboo, tabu - a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature irrational hostility - extreme prejudice partisanship, partiality - an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives experimenter bias - (psychology) bias introduced by an experimenter whose expectations about the outcome of the experiment can be subtly communicated to the participants in the experiment homophobia - prejudice against (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and homosexuality Islamophobia - prejudice against Muslims; "Muslim intellectuals are afraid of growing Islamophobia in the West" racism - the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races tendentiousness - an intentional and controversial bias

preconception

noun preconceived idea or notion, notion, prejudice, bias, presumption, predisposition, presupposition, prepossession his preconceptions about the sort of people who work in computing

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

prévention

preconcetto

preconception

[ˈpriːkənˈsepʃən] N (= idea) → preconcepción f, idea f preconcebida

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

preconception

[ˌpriːkənˈsɛpʃ^ən] n → idée f préconçue

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

preconception

n → vorgefasste Meinung

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

preconception

[ˌpriːkənˈsɛpʃ/ən] n → preconcetto

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

Thus property is as an instrument to living; an estate is a multitude of instruments; so a slave is an animated instrument, but every one that can minister of himself is more valuable than any other instrument; for if every instrument, at command, or from a preconception of its master's will, could accomplish its work (as the story goes of the statues of Daedalus; or what the poet tells us of the tripods of Vulcan, "that they moved of their own accord into the assembly of the gods "), the shuttle would then weave, and the lyre play of itself; nor would the architect want servants, or the [1254a] master slaves.

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She was to board with a certain Miss Janet Sweet, but she saw no one who answered in the least to her preconception of that lady, as formed from Esther's letter.

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The motions of these men were slow and solemn, as if there impended over their souls some preconception of horror and of cruelty.

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If I could have associated the thought of such a thing with my preconception of Great-aunt Eliza I could have sworn there was a twinkle in her eye.

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It was contrary to all their preconceptions of mid- ocean rescue of ship-wrecked mariners from the open boat.

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And I have been convinced of this in spite of strong preconceptions. Before the Martian invasion, as an occasional reader here or there may remember, I had written with some little vehemence against the telepathic theory.

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He thought it probable that Miss Brooke liked him, and manners must be very marked indeed before they cease to be interpreted by preconceptions either confident or distrustful.

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This is, as yet, a mere hypothesis, to be tested empirically without any preconceptions. It may be true, or it may not.

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"I wish I could always err in the same way," said Stephen, "and find reality so much more beautiful than my preconceptions."

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Although courts have favored defendants in "preconception tort" actions in the past, that could change.

Unknowns and Long Tails: What's the Next 'Ex'?

NHS Lanarkshire is promoting preconception health to women, and emphasising the importance of good health prior to becoming pregnant.

Prepare for healthy pregnancy

Ashley Goodfellow, public health specialist for NHS Lanarkshire, said: "All men and women can benefit from good preconception health, whether or not they plan to have a baby now, or in the future.