extreme prejudice

English

Etymology

From the longer phrase terminate with extreme prejudice, popularized by the film Apocalypse Now (1979), but used earlier jokingly as CIA jargon.

Noun

extreme prejudice (uncountable)

1. Lethal force, applied extrajudicially with the intent to kill.
   • 1971, American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 575:

     Osborn was involved in the liquidation program and cites an example of a Vietnamese operative being liquidated with extreme prejudice on orders from higher headquarters.

2. Severe treatment.
   • 2002, Finance Week, page 81:

     Without a real market to determine the price such suggested prices should be discounted with extreme prejudice by any potential investors.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see extreme,‎ prejudice.
   • 1989, Defense Law Journal, volume 38, page 301:

     The centerpiece of the court's justification for reversing and remanding was its conclusion that when the trial judge disclosed the terms of the settlement, he created a great risk of extreme prejudice to the remaining defendant.

   • 2002, Vincent N. Parrillo, Understanding Race and Ethnic Relations, page 16:

     For example, majority-group members may view minority groups with suspicion, but not all minority groups become the targets of extreme prejudice and discrimination.

Related terms

• terminate with extreme prejudice – to assassinate