prepossession

noun

pre·​pos·​ses·​sion

ˌprē-pə-ˈze-shən,

also

-ˈse- 

1

archaic : prior possession

2

: an attitude, belief, or impression formed beforehand : prejudice

3

: an exclusive concern with one idea or object : preoccupation

Synonyms

• preconception
• prejudgment

Choose the Right Synonym for prepossession

predilection, prepossession, prejudice, bias mean an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something.

predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience.

a predilection for travel

prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it.

a prepossession against technology

prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance.

a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar

bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing.

a strong bias toward the plaintiff

Example Sentences

the foreign tourists' prepossessions about life in the U.S. had been formed by many hours of American TV shows

tried to cure him of his prepossession with money

Word History

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prepossession

noun

pre·​pos·​ses·​sion ˌprē-pə-ˈzesh-ən 

1

: an attitude, belief, or impression formed beforehand : prejudice

2

: great concern with just one idea or object