Prejudices is a plural noun referring to preconceived opinions or judgments about people or groups, formed without adequate evidence. It can also denote biases that influence behavior and attitudes. In common usage, it often appears in social, political, and moral contexts, sometimes describing systematic or deep-seated biases. The term emphasizes judgments made prematurely, rather than on objective information.
"Her prejudices against the community were challenged when she met people from there."
"There are many historical prejudices that still affect policy decisions today."
"Teachers should address students' biases to promote a fair learning environment."
"The study examined how stereotypes and prejudices influence hiring practices."
Prejudices originates from Middle English prejudisen, derived from Old French prejudice, from Latin praejudicium, composed of prae- (before) and iudicium (judgment). The term originally carried the sense of a legal injury or an adverse ruling made before hearing a case. In English, the sense broadened during the 16th–17th centuries to include prejudging someone or something based on preconceived notions, often implying irrational or biased conclusions. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the word commonly referred to biased opinions not grounded in evidence, aligning with modern usage describing social biases and discriminatory attitudes. The plural form prejudices enters standard usage to denote multiple biased opinions or general attitudes rather than a single judgment. Over time, the word has acquired connotations of ingrained or systemic biases within individuals, groups, or institutions, frequently discussed in psychology, sociology, and critical theory. First known uses were recorded in literary and legal texts illustrating premature judgment in social disputes and moral debates."
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Words that rhyme with "Prejudices"
-tes sounds
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Pronounce it as PREJ-uh-diss-iz with three syllables: primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈprɛdʒ.əˌdɪzɪz/; UK /ˈprɛdʒ.əˌdɪz.ɪz/; AU /ˈprɛdʒ.əˌdɪz.ɪz/. The middle syllable is a schwa, and the final -izes sounds like -ɪzɪz. Mouth position: start with a labiodental-velar blend for “pre-” and keep the /dʒ/ as in 'edge'.
Common errors: misplacing stress (putting it on the second syllable) and mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as a plain /j/; also dropping the final -es syllable or making the final -s sound blunt. Correction: keep initial stress on PRE-, pronounce /ˈprɛdʒ.ə.dɪ.zɪz/ with three distinct syllables and clear /dʒ/ as in 'judge'. Emphasize the /ˈprɛdʒ/ onset, use a light middle vowel (ə), and end with -zɪz to reflect the plural ending.
US tends to keep the /ɪ/ in the final syllables and a slightly rhotic flavor; UK often has a crisper /ˈprɛdʒ.ə.dɪ.zɪz/ with non-rhoticity in some speakers affecting the ending; AU mirrors UK but with more vowels centralized and softer /ɪ/. Across all, the initial /prɛdʒ/ is consistent; the main variation is vowel quality and the exact articulation of the final -zɪz vs -zɪz. Note: none of these changes alter the essential three-syllable pattern.
Difficulties stem from the three-syllable structure with a cluster /dʒ/ right after the initial vowel: /ˈprɛdʒ/ can be tripping if you’re not comfortable with /dʒ/ blending. The middle schwa /ə/ is quick and often reduced, which can blur syllable boundaries, and the final /ɪzɪz/ requires precise voicing and a clear /z/ vs /s/ contrast in some dialects. Practice isolating the /ˈprɛdʒ/ onset, then add the unstressed /ə/ and the /dɪzɪz/ ending smoothly.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation, but there is a distinctive stress pattern: primary stress on the first syllable plus secondary stress near the third syllable: /ˈprɛdʒ.ə.dɪˌzɪz/. The third syllable carries a lighter emphasis than the first. Understanding this helps with natural rhythm in connected speech, especially in faster contexts.
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