prejudicial

Prejudicial is an adjective describing something that tends to prejudice or bias people, or that is harmful to someone's rights or to the fairness of a process. It can refer to information, remarks, or conduct that predisposes individuals toward a particular conclusion without adequate justification. The term is common in legal and everyday use, and it often implies that a factor should be given limited weight because it may distort judgment rather than inform it.

In legal contexts, prejudicial material is information or evidence that is likely to inflame the jury's emotions or sympathies and thus unduly prejudice a decision. Courts may exclude such material if its probative value is substantially outweighed by risks of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. The balance between probative value and prejudicial risk is a central concern of evidentiary rules.

In general discourse, prejudicial language or publicity can shape opinions by appealing to fear, anger, or stereotypes rather than to facts. This usage highlights the social implications of bias and the importance of fair consideration.

Etymology: prejudicial derives from prejudice, from Latin praejudicium meaning a judgment in advance. The adjective denotes something that is likely to cause bias or harm the fairness of a process. Related terms include prejudge and bias.