Without prejudice的意思

"Without prejudice" is a legal term that means any communication or offer made in that context cannot be used as evidence against the person making it in the event of a subsequent legal proceeding. It is often used in negotiations or when making an offer to settle a dispute. The purpose of using "without prejudice" is to encourage open and honest communication between parties without the fear that their words or proposals will be used against them later in court.

For example, if Party A makes an offer to settle a dispute with Party B, and the offer is marked "without prejudice," Party B cannot later use the fact that the offer was made as evidence in court, even if the settlement is not reached. This term is particularly important in the context of settlement negotiations, where both parties may be more willing to make concessions or offers if they know that those offers cannot be used against them in court if the negotiations fail.