adjective
prejudicial
prehd-zhuu-DIHSHL
Prejudicial (adjective) means Likely to cause harm or unfair disadvantage, especially in a legal or formal context. Example: “The judge ruled the photo too prejudicial to show the jury.”
adjective
1
Likely to cause harm or unfair disadvantage, especially in a legal or formal context.
"The judge ruled the photo too prejudicial to show the jury."
"Leaking the report could be prejudicial to the ongoing investigation."
How to use prejudicial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that unfairly harms a person's case or reputation, often used in courtroom or formal contexts.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "prejudiced" (having biased opinions) — prejudicial describes something that causes harm or unfair disadvantage, not a person's attitude.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prejudicial evidence
unduly prejudicial
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more prejudicial
- Superlative
- most prejudicial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The judge ruled the photo too _____ to show the jury.
Etymology
From Old French prejudicial and Medieval Latin praeiudicialis, ultimately from the same Latin root as prejudice.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for prejudicial
See all rhymes for prejudicial →Frequently asked questions
What does “prejudicial” mean?
The word “prejudicial” means likely to cause harm or unfair disadvantage, especially in a legal or formal context. In plain terms, something that unfairly harms a person's case or reputation, often used in courtroom or formal contexts.
How do you pronounce “prejudicial”?
“Prejudicial” is pronounced prehd-zhuu-DIHSHL (/ˌprɛdʒʊˈdɪʃl/ in IPA).
How do you use “prejudicial” in a sentence?
Here is “prejudicial” used in a sentence: “The judge ruled the photo too prejudicial to show the jury.”
What part of speech is “prejudicial”?
“Prejudicial” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prejudicial” come from?
The word “prejudicial” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French prejudicial and Medieval Latin praeiudicialis, ultimately from the same Latin root as prejudice.
