Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹bias

noun bi·as \ˈbī-əs\

: a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly

: a strong interest in something or ability to do something

Full Definition of BIAS

: a line diagonal to the grain of a fabric; especially : a line at a 45 degree angle to the selvage often utilized in the cutting of garments for smoother fit

a : a peculiarity in the shape of a bowl that causes it to swerve when rolled on the green in lawn bowling

b : the tendency of a bowl to swerve; also : the impulse causing this tendency

c : the swerve of the bowl

a : bent, tendency

b : an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : prejudice

c : an instance of such prejudice

d (1) : deviation of the expected value of a statistical estimate from the quantity it estimates (2) : systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others

a : a voltage applied to a device (as a transistor control electrode) to establish a reference level for operation

b : a high-frequency voltage combined with an audio signal to reduce distortion in tape recording

— on the bias

: askew, obliquely

See bias defined for English-language learners

See bias defined for kids

Examples of BIAS

… members of the opinion media will cherry-pick moments from the debate that support their own ideological biases. —Michelle Cottle, New Republic, 16 Oct. 2000
Blatant racial and gender discrimination is just about over, creating a sociological space in which to worry about subtler forms of bias. —Gregg Easterbrook, New Republic, 20 Dec. 1999
Like the printing press before it, the computer has a powerful bias toward amplifying personal autonomy and individual problem-solving. —Katha Pollitt, Nation, 9 Oct. 1995
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of BIAS

Middle French biais

First Known Use: 1530

Related to BIAS

Synonyms: favor, nonobjectivity, one-sidedness, partiality, parti pris, partisanship, ply, prejudice, tendentiousness

Antonyms: impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, open-mindedness, unbiasedness

Synonym Discussion of BIAS

predilection, prepossession, prejudice, bias mean an attitude of mind that predisposes one to favor something. predilection implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience <a predilection for travel>. prepossession suggests a fixed conception likely to preclude objective judgment of anything counter to it <a prepossession against technology>. prejudice usually implies an unfavorable prepossession and connotes a feeling rooted in suspicion, fear, or intolerance <a mindless prejudice against the unfamiliar>. bias implies an unreasoned and unfair distortion of judgment in favor of or against a person or thing <a strong bias toward the plaintiff>.

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with BIAS

Aias, eyas, Laius, Lias, pious, Pius

²bias

adjective bi·as \ˈbī-əs\

Definition of BIAS

: diagonal, slanting —used chiefly of fabrics and their cut

— bi·as·ness noun

Origin of BIAS

(see ¹bias)

First Known Use: 1551

Other Textiles Terms

batt, brocade, duck, flock, lawn, toile

³bias

adverb bi·as \ˈbī-əs\

Definition of BIAS

: diagonally <cut cloth bias>

obsolete : awry

Origin of BIAS

(see ¹bias)

First Known Use: 1575

Related to BIAS

Synonyms: athwart, crosswise, cornerways, cornerwise, crossways, diagonally, kitty-corner (also catty-corner or catercorner or kitty-cornered or catty-cornered or catercornered), obliquely, transversely

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

⁴bias

verb bi·as \ˈbī-əs\

: to have a strong and often unfair influence on (someone or something)

bi·ased or bi·assedbi·as·ing or bi·as·sing

Full Definition of BIAS

transitive verb

: to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to <his background biases him against foreigners>

: to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as a transistor)

See bias defined for English-language learners

Examples of BIAS

Unfortunately, his convictions are not clearly and logically developed; they mostly lurk in the background biasing his reporting. He does not always give the reader a fair chance to follow the arguments of the actors—even those with whom he ardently agrees. —Leonard Silk, New York Times Book Review24 Feb. 1980

Origin of BIAS

(see ¹bias)

First Known Use: circa 1628

Related to BIAS

Synonyms: prejudice, poison, turn

Synonym Discussion of BIAS

incline, bias, dispose, predispose mean to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something. incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions <I incline to agree>. bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice <the experience biased him against foreigners>. dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something <her nature disposes her to trust others>. predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself <does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?>.