Meaning & use
preconceived notion
An idea or belief formed before having actual knowledge, evidence, or experience of something.
See it in a sentence
Traveling abroad challenged many of my preconceived notions about people from other cultures.
Try to set aside your preconceived notions before you meet the new team members.
A note on using this word
Preconceived notion nearly always carries a negative sense, implying the belief is unfair, inaccurate, or resistant to new evidence.
Words with a similar meaning
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