preconception

noun

pre·​con·​cep·​tion ˌprē-kən-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce preconception (audio)
1
: a preconceived idea
2

Examples of preconception in a Sentence

I came to the lecture without any preconceptions. tried to go into the training sessions without any preconceptions
Recent Examples on the Web Low iron status in the preconception phase can put you at higher risk for iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 Receptive listeners approach conversations with an open mind, suspending their own biases and preconceptions. Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 What feels like an overnight revolution, AI has made tasks that were once defined by the human touch—from writing and analysis to complex decision-making—seem up for grabs and challenged our preconceptions about the role of AI, offering capabilities many leaders thought decades away. Soulaima Gourani, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 What if interviews are conducted not to discover new facts but simply to reinforce preconceptions or reassure tribal membership? Peter Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2024 Kat’s unexamined preconceptions about Black people slip out and are immediately called out. Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024 But that feeling is also one of several preconceptions that Wenders and his co-writer, Takuma Takasaki, want to gently dismantle from the start. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024 With new technology, archaeologists can grasp finer details about early human diets and challenge common preconceptions. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024 And to describe a thing can be to reassert its reality in the face of inflated claims and false preconceptions. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preconception was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near preconception

Cite this Entry

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

Medical Definition

preconception

adjective
pre·​con·​cep·​tion -kən-ˈsep-shən How to pronounce preconception (audio)
: occurring prior to conception
preconception genetic counseling

More from Merriam-Webster on preconception

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