prejudicial

USAGE SUMMARY

'prejudicial' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something that has a tendency to favor one side of an argument, or one group of people. For example, "The new law has a prejudicial impact on minority communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"School uniform is for heads to enforce but they should be extremely careful that the messages being given to young women are not encouraging prejudicial attitudes that dress is somehow a provocation".

The Guardian

"So to be in the position to be able to directly challenge that kind of debate, I felt like it was an opportunity I couldn't miss really, and I'm very glad that I took it and that there was somebody there to call him out on such a prejudicial position".

The Guardian

Grebby said: "SRTRC's educational model is built around the need to ensure young people have the critical thinking skills necessary to challenge inaccurate information and build resilience towards the adoption of potentially prejudicial attitudes.

The Guardian

Allen Green added: "For a court to order a national broadcaster not to show such a programme really should only be done if there was direct evidence of prejudicial content.

The Guardian

If a 57-year-old woman is lying in hospital with a life-threatening hole in her temple, this is no "alleged shooting": the shooting is literally bloody obvious, only guilt is left to be alleged.Journalists are rightly warned by editors to avoid prejudicial language by ring-fencing suspicions with words like "alleged".

The Economist

But to Taiwan this would amount to surrender.The stand-off might have gone on almost indefinitely but for the intervention of the Clinton administration in ways which Taipei has seen as prejudicial to its position.

The Economist

Charged with "communicating false statements prejudicial to the state", he was released 24 hours later.

The Economist

None of this was thought strange or, in the end, prejudicial to the trial.

The Economist

At the New York Philharmonic or the Metropolitan, he feels "a sense from the audience around me that there's an old automatic…bigoted and prejudicial response to this music…It is a very frustrating attitude; people have grown up with it, and it can be devilishly hard to persuade them to evolve away from it".Ms Kelly is confident that the festival will go some way to persuade reluctant listeners.

The Economist

If found guilty of a crime deemed "prejudicial to morality", Miss Kim and her married lover would have faced up to two years in prison.This might surprise any casual visitor to Seoul, where massage parlours and the touts who hustle for them are easily seen.

The Economist

The third reason was that the government did not like the tone of Mr Lambert's reporting, finding it "prejudicial" to Uganda's national interests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or ethical matters, ensure that the term "prejudicial" is used to accurately reflect a bias or potential harm that could influence a fair decision or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "prejudicial" when simpler terms like "harmful" or "biased" suffice. "Prejudicial" carries a strong connotation of legal or ethical compromise, so reserve it for situations where that specific implication is intended.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prejudicial" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing something as causing harm or being biased. As Ludwig AI highlights, the word is grammatically correct and frequently used, reinforcing its established role in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

24%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "prejudicial" functions as an adjective describing something that causes harm or exhibits bias. It is grammatically correct and frequently used, according to Ludwig AI. As the examples from Ludwig show, the word often appears in legal, ethical, and academic contexts. While "prejudicial" is a versatile word, it's crucial to consider its nuances and use it when the intent is to convey a strong sense of bias or potential harm. Alternatives such as "harmful", "biased", and "detrimental" may be more appropriate in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biased

Emphasizes a leaning towards one side; focuses on the subjective nature of the judgment.

detrimental

Highlights the harmful or damaging effects of something.

harmful

Focuses on the potential to cause damage or injury.

damaging

Stresses the act of causing harm or impairment.

injurious

Implies causing physical or non-physical harm.

unjust

Highlights the lack of fairness and equity.

inequitable

Emphasizes the lack of equal treatment or opportunity.

discriminatory

Focuses on unfair treatment based on group affiliation.

tendentious

Emphasizes a controversial and often biased viewpoint.

adverse

Indicates an unfavorable or negative impact.

FAQs

How can I use "prejudicial" in a sentence?

The term "prejudicial" is used to describe something that causes harm or is biased. For example: "The evidence was ruled inadmissible because it was deemed "unduly prejudicial" to the defendant."

What's the difference between "prejudicial" and "prejudiced"?

"Prejudicial" describes something that causes prejudice or harm, while "prejudiced" describes someone who holds preconceived biases. A "prejudicial statement" can be made by a prejudiced person, but the terms have distinct meanings.

What can I say instead of "prejudicial"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "harmful", "biased", "detrimental", or "damaging". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "prejudicial" a formal word?

While not exclusively formal, "prejudicial" is often used in more formal contexts, especially those involving legal or ethical considerations. In less formal settings, simpler words like "unfair" or "biased" might be more appropriate.