without prejudice

Prepositional phrase

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see without, prejudice.
   • without bias or prejudice
   • In the present writer's opinion there was no greater and more successful locomotive engineer in the country, during the first quarter-century, than George Jackson Churchward of the Great Western Railway. This statement is made without prejudice, for I was brought up on the other line extending from...1957 July, C. Hamilton Ellis, “Six Decades of Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 471
2. (formal) Not affecting nor considering other possibly related issues.
   • It is to be hoped that the final scheme will satisfy all interests—preserving some of old Euston's magnificence but without prejudice to the progress of modernisation.1960 March, “Doric Arch and Great Hall at Euston”, in Railway Magazine, page 148
3. Without affecting a legal interest.
4. Without binding future decisions or requiring a certain position to be taken in the future; (law) used to allow a statement or proposal in communications, while allowing the party to return to their original position without being impeded by the described statement or proposal.
   • The court granted temporary custody to the mother, without prejudice as to the father's right to seek permanent custody at a later hearing.
   • When attempting to settle a lawsuit, the parties generally communicate on a "without prejudice" basis.