preconception

noun

pre·​con·​cep·​tion ˌprē-kən-ˈsep-shən 

1

: a preconceived idea

2

: prejudice

Synonyms

• prejudgment
• prepossession

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

The main thing isn’t to play into the preconceptions of formalwear, but to chip away at them to find a personal style that works for you. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

One of the biggest surprises, and don’t worry, this is something that comes up almost immediately in episode one, is when a character’s appearance and voice don’t exactly match up to our preconceptions. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

When a Republican Congress and Democratic President Bill Clinton enacted welfare reform in 1996, researchers tracked its real-world effects without ideological preconceptions. —Andrew V. Papachristos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Pattinson, a putty-limbed stooge one minute and a vicious nihilist the next, has fun challenging Mickey’s preconceptions of himself—or, rather, himselves. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for preconception

• apperception
• contraception
• interception
• misconception
• misperception
• conception
• deception
• exception
• inception
• perception
• reception
• intussusception

Medical Definition

preconception

adjective

pre·​con·​cep·​tion -kən-ˈsep-shən 

: occurring prior to conception

preconception genetic counseling