prejudge

verb

pre·​judge (ˌ)prē-ˈjəj How to pronounce prejudge (audio)
prejudged; prejudging; prejudges

transitive verb

: to judge before hearing or before full and sufficient examination
prejudger noun
prejudgment noun

Examples of prejudge in a Sentence

Officials complain that some reporters have prejudged the outcome of the investigation. She was wrong for prejudging him.
Recent Examples on the Web In asking for Chutkan to recuse herself earlier this month, Trump’s lawyers said the veteran jurist appeared to have prejudged the former president’s guilt, citing her statements when sentencing two defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023 Trump’s defense on Monday asked for Chutkan’s recusal, saying the veteran jurist appeared to have prejudged the former president’s guilt. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 In some ways, whether it gets removed or not is one of those funny evidentiary things where, to some extent, the judge has to almost prejudge the case. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2023 But Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce on Thursday ruled against the defense, finding that Judge James Linn did not prejudge the matter, meaning the decadelong criminal case will remain with Linn while attorneys fight for the same outcome as that of the former co-defendants. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2023 Although this inquiry is highly dependent on the unique facts and circumstances of a particular transaction, Chair Gensler has prejudged the issue. Marisa Coppel, Fortune Crypto, 29 June 2023 If the recusal issue were brought before an actual court, a judge would require a Commissioner to recuse themselves or dismiss the case if the Commissioner had appeared to have prejudged the facts and law of a particular case. Marisa Coppel, Fortune Crypto, 29 June 2023 Again, not prejudging what the conclusions will be. CBS News, 18 June 2023 Again, not prejudging what the conclusions will be but what the Saudis are doing here is not taking control of a single team or hiring one player. CBS News, 18 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prejudge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French prejuger, from Latin praejudicare, from prae- + judicare to judge — more at judge entry 2

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prejudge was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near prejudge

Cite this Entry

“Prejudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prejudge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prejudge

verb
pre·​judge (ˈ)prē-ˈjəj How to pronounce prejudge (audio)
: to judge before receiving all or enough of the facts
prejudgment noun

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