prej·u·dice 1 /'pre-jə-dəs/ n [Old French, from Latin praejudicium previous judgment, damage, from prae- before + judicium judgment]
1: injury or detriment to one's legal rights or claims (as from the action of another): as
a: substantial impairment of a defendant's ability to defend
the court found no prejudice to the defendant by the lengthy delay in bringing charges
b: tendency for a decision on an improper basis (as past conduct) by a trier of fact
whether an ex parte communication to a deliberating jury resulted in any reasonable possibility of prejudice to the defendant — National Law Journal
c: implied waiver of rights and privileges not explicitly retained
District Court erred in attaching prejudice to prisoner's complaint for injunctive relief — National Law Journal
2: a final and binding decision (as an adjudication on the merits) that bars further prosecution of the same cause of action or motion
dismisses this case with prejudice
the dismissal was without prejudice
3 a: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics
the Constitution does not prohibit laws based on prejudice per se — R. H. Bork
b: an attitude or disposition (as of a judge) that prevents impartiality
that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice...against him — U.S. Code
prejudice 2 vt -diced, -dic·ing
1: to injure or damage the rights of by some legal action or prejudice
if it appears that a defendant or the government is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses — Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 14
2: to injure or damage (rights) by some legal action or prejudice
that the denial prejudiced his right to a fair trial
this clause does not prejudice other rights
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.