noun
Common
bias
BEYE-uhs
Bias (noun) means an unfair leaning toward or against something, often without a person even realizing it. Example: “The newspaper was criticised for its obvious bias against small businesses.”
noun
1
An unfair leaning toward or against something, often without a person even realizing it.
"The newspaper was criticised for its obvious bias against small businesses."
"The judge was accused of bias toward the defendant's family."
"Everyone has some bias, which is why blind reviews exist."
2
A diagonal direction across woven fabric, cut at 45 degrees to the straight threads.
"Cutting the cloth on the bias gives the dress a soft, stretchy drape."
"Bias binding is cut at an angle so it curves smoothly around a neckline."
"The skirt was cut on the bias so it would drape and flow."
3
In statistics, a systematic error that skews a measurement or estimate away from the true value.
"The researchers corrected for bias caused by the faulty measuring device."
"Only asking volunteers introduces bias, because they may differ from everyone else."
"The survey had a sampling bias because it only called landlines."
verb
1
To unfairly influence someone or something in a particular direction.
"Don't let one bad experience bias you against the whole company."
"Advertising can bias children toward choosing certain foods."
"The leading question was designed to bias the witness's answer."
How to use bias
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slant or lean toward one side — literally in fabric or a bowling ball, figuratively in judgment or opinion.
Common mistake
Bias doesn't always mean deliberate prejudice — it can be an unconscious or purely statistical skew.
Common pairings
unconscious bias
cut on the bias
bias toward something
sampling bias
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Word forms
- Plural
- biases, biasses
- Third person singular
- biases, biasses
- Past tense
- biased, biassed
- Comparative
- more bias
- Superlative
- most bias
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The newspaper was criticised for its obvious _____ against small businesses.
Etymology
From Middle French biais, "sideways" or "at a slant," first used in English around 1520 for an oblique line, then borrowed into the game of bowls for a ball's curving path — which gave us the figurative "leaning" sense.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for bias
See all rhymes for bias →Frequently asked questions
What does “bias” mean?
The word “bias” means an unfair leaning toward or against something, often without a person even realizing it. In plain terms, a slant or lean toward one side — literally in fabric or a bowling ball, figuratively in judgment or opinion.
How do you pronounce “bias”?
“Bias” is pronounced BEYE-uhs (/ˈbaɪ.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “bias” in a sentence?
Here is “bias” used in a sentence: “The judge was accused of bias toward the defendant's family.”
What part of speech is “bias”?
Depending on how it is used, “bias” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bias” come from?
The word “bias” dates back to around 1520 and comes from Middle French. From Middle French biais, "sideways" or "at a slant," first used in English around 1520 for an oblique line, then borrowed into the game of bowls for a ball's curving path — which gave us the figurative "leaning" sense.
Is “bias” a common word?
“Bias” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bias” have?
“Bias” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an unfair leaning toward or against something, often without a person even realizing it.
What is the difference between bias and prejudice?
Bias is an unfair leaning toward or against something, often unconscious, while prejudice is a stronger, usually negative judgment formed before knowing the facts. All prejudice involves bias, but bias can be milder and sometimes unnoticed even by the person holding it. Prejudice tends to describe firmer, more hostile attitudes.
Is bias always negative?
The most common sense of bias, an unfair leaning toward or against something, is negative because it suggests unfairness. However, bias can also be neutral in technical uses, such as the bias of fabric in sewing. Context determines whether bias carries a critical meaning.
What is the difference between bias and biased?
Bias is the noun for an unfair leaning toward or against something, while biased is the adjective describing a person or view that shows such leaning. You might say a report has a bias, or that a report is biased. A common mistake is writing bias when the adjective biased is needed.
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