bias

[ bahy-uhs ]

/ ˈbaɪ əs /

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noun

a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned: illegal bias against older job applicants;the magazine’s bias toward art rather than photography;our strong bias in favor of the idea.

unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudice: accusations of racial bias.

an oblique or diagonal line of direction, especially across a woven fabric.

Statistics. a systematic as opposed to a random distortion of a statistic as a result of sampling procedure.

Lawn Bowling.

a slight bulge or greater weight on one side of the ball or bowl.
the curved course made by such a ball when rolled.

Electronics. the application of a steady voltage or current to an active device, as a diode or transistor, to produce a desired mode of operation.

a high-frequency alternating current applied to the recording head of a tape recorder during recording in order to reduce distortion.

adjective

cut, set, folded, etc., diagonally: This material requires a bias cut.

adverb

in a diagonal manner; obliquely; slantingly: to cut material bias.

verb (used with object), bi·ased, bi·as·ing or (especially British) bi·assed, bi·as·sing.

to cause to hold or exhibit a particular bias; to influence, especially unfairly: a tearful plea designed to bias the jury;a survey biased toward highly educated people.

Electronics. to apply a steady voltage or current to (the input of an active device).

SYNONYMS FOR bias

1 predisposition, preconception, predilection, partiality, proclivity; bent, leaning.

10 predispose, bend, incline, dispose.

See synonyms for bias on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR bias

1 impartiality.

See antonyms for bias on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for bias

on the bias,

in the diagonal direction of the cloth.
out of line; slanting.

Origin of bias

1520–30; <Middle French biais oblique <Old Provençal, probably <Vulgar Latin *(e)bigassius<Greek epikársios oblique, equivalent to epi-epi- + -karsios oblique

synonym study for bias

1. Bias, prejudice mean a strong inclination of the mind or a preconceived opinion about something or someone. A bias may be favorable or unfavorable: bias in favor of or against an idea. Prejudice implies a preformed judgment even more unreasoning than bias, and usually implies an unfavorable opinion: prejudice against people of another religion.

OTHER WORDS FROM bias

sub·bi·as, nounsu·per·bi·as, noun

Words nearby bias

biannual, biannulate, Biarritz, biarticular, biarticulate, bias, bias-belted tire, bias binding, biased, bias-ply tire, biatch

Definition for bias (2 of 2)

Bias

[ bahy-uhs ]

/ ˈbaɪ əs /

noun

flourished 570 b.c., Greek philosopher, born in Ionia.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for bias

It also seeks to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, by addressing systemic racism and bias in order to help save lives.
Rep. Karen Bass Reintroduces George Floyd Policing Bill in Congress|Shani Parrish|February 26, 2021|Essence.com
A Sia supporter might claim that I already had my mind made up about the movie, and reviewed it through my preexisting bias.
Sia's Golden Globe-Nominated Music Isn’t Just Offensive. It’s Also Bad Art—and the Distinction Matters|Sarah Kurchak|February 25, 2021|Time
Besides the very real risk of the tech being biased against minorities, the technology also carries with it an uneasy sense that we’re creeping towards a surveillance state.
Facial Recognition Drones Will Use AI to Take the Perfect Picture of You|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|February 23, 2021|Singularity Hub
Implicit social cognition is what psychologists describe as the cognitive processes that occur outside of our conscious awareness or control, including all the associated attitudes, stereotypes, and lingering biases.
Can We Please Stop Calling Them “Asian Fit” Goggles?|Benny Chen|February 22, 2021|Outside Online

“Once you see where the lampposts really are, it becomes more clear that there is some serious selection bias going on with the discovery of these objects,” Napier says.
Signs of a hidden Planet Nine in the solar system may not hold up|Lisa Grossman|February 22, 2021|Science News
Community activists attack racial bias in policing, so police get defensive?
The St. Louis Rams Enter the Ferguson Fray|Sally Kohn|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless there is “a clear national security or law enforcement need,” the bias would lean toward disclosure.
How Obama Endangered Us All With Stuxnet|Kim Zetter|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“There was definitely some bias built up there that was based on my past success and previous exposure,” he says.
Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up, Clutching His Penis and Everything|Kevin Fallon|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, at least one study showed that people who watch the program develop more bias against the obese.
‘The Biggest Loser’ Could Be TV’s Most Important Show Ever|Daniela Drake|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a pro-cable bias that seems to forgive so-so shows and so-so series and judges network series harshly.
‘The Good Wife’ Creators on the Premiere’s Big Cary Twist, Will’s Death, and More|Kevin Fallon|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dr. Bias deserves the more credit for his progress in life, as he is entirely self-made.
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States|Martin R. Delany
Perhaps the following consideration will render both the "bias" and the "first-cousinship" at least intelligible.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 4 of 8|Various
I endeavoured to divest myself of all selfish bias, and loved more and more to inquire into religious subjects.
Fox's Book of Martyrs|John Foxe
He not only knocked off a bias patch of skin, but gave me a couple of black eyes that kept me at home for a week.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur
The majority believe that the Church has a capitalistic bias.
The Necessity of Atheism|Dr. D.M. Brooks

British Dictionary definitions for bias

bias

/ (ˈbaɪəs) /

noun

mental tendency or inclination, esp an irrational preference or prejudice

a diagonal line or cut across the weave of a fabric

electronics the voltage applied to an electronic device or system to establish suitable working conditions

bowls

a bulge or weight inside one side of a bowl
the curved course of such a bowl on the green

statistics

an extraneous latent influence on, unrecognized conflated variable in, or selectivity in a sample which influences its distribution and so renders it unable to reflect the desired population parameters
if T is an estimator of the parameter θ, the expected value of (T–θ)

an inaudible high-frequency signal used to improve the quality of a tape recording