preapprehension

noun

pre·​apprehension

(¦)prē+

1

: an apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge : a preconceived notion

2

: a fear of some evil that may come about : foreboding

Word History

Etymology

pre- + apprehension

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!