Advertisement

View synonyms for bias

bias

1

[ bahy-uhs ]

noun

  1. a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned:

    The hiring manager was found to have shown bias against job applicants who wore less expensive clothing.

    The magazine’s bias is toward art rather than photography.

    We need to set aside our strong bias in favor of the idea and evaluate it logically.

    Synonyms: leaning, bent, proclivity, partiality, predilection, preconception, predisposition

    Antonyms: impartiality

  2. unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudice:

    The show’s host has faced accusations of racial bias.

  3. an oblique or diagonal line of direction, especially across a woven fabric.
  4. Statistics. a systematic as opposed to random distortion of a statistic as a result of sampling procedure.
  5. Electronics. the application of a steady voltage or current to an active device, such as a diode or transistor, to produce a desired mode of operation.
  6. a high-frequency alternating current applied to the recording head of a tape recorder during recording in order to reduce distortion.
  7. Lawn Bowling.
    1. a slight bulge or greater weight on one side of the ball or bowl.
    2. the curved course made by such a ball when rolled.


adjective

  1. cut, set, folded, etc., diagonally:

    This material requires a bias cut.

    I used bias binding to finish the garment.

adverb

  1. in a diagonal manner; obliquely; slantingly:

    Cut your material bias for extra stretch.

verb (used with object)

, bi·ased, bi·as·ing or (especially British) bi·assed, bi·as·sing.
  1. to cause to hold or exhibit a particular bias; to influence, especially unfairly:

    The defendant gave a tearful plea designed to bias the jury.

    The survey was heavily biased toward highly educated people.

    Synonyms: dispose, incline, bend, predispose

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

Bias

2

[ bahy-uhs ]

noun

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

bias

/ ˈbaɪəs /

noun

  1. mental tendency or inclination, esp an irrational preference or prejudice
  2. a diagonal line or cut across the weave of a fabric
  3. electronics the voltage applied to an electronic device or system to establish suitable working conditions
  4. bowls
    1. a bulge or weight inside one side of a bowl
    2. the curved course of such a bowl on the green
  5. statistics
    1. 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
    2. if T is an estimator of the parameter θ , the expected value of ( T–θ )
  6. an inaudible high-frequency signal used to improve the quality of a tape recording


adjective

  1. slanting obliquely; diagonal

    a bias fold

adverb

  1. obliquely; diagonally

verb

  1. usually passive to cause to have a bias; prejudice; influence

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈbiased, adjective

Discover More

Other Words From

  • sub·bi·as noun
  • su·per·bi·as noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of bias1

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French biais “obliqueness,” from Old Provençal, probably from Vulgar Latin (e)bigassius (unrecorded), from Greek epikársios “oblique,” from epi- epi- + -karsios “oblique”; alternatively, from Vulgar Latin biaxius (unrecorded) “having two axes” ( bi-, axis )

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of bias1

C16: from Old French biais , from Old Provençal, perhaps ultimately from Greek epikarsios oblique

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on the bias,
    1. in the diagonal direction of the cloth:

      Many of her designs were cut on the bias, making the fabric soft and fluid.

    2. out of line; slanting.

Discover More

Synonym Study

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.

Discover More

Example Sentences

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.

A Sia supporter might claim that I already had my mind made up about the movie, and reviewed it through my preexisting bias.

From 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.

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.

“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.

Community activists attack racial bias in policing, so police get defensive?

Unless there is “a clear national security or law enforcement need,” the bias would lean toward disclosure.

“There was definitely some bias built up there that was based on my past success and previous exposure,” he says.

Indeed, at least one study showed that people who watch the program develop more bias against the obese.

There is a pro-cable bias that seems to forgive so-so shows and so-so series and judges network series harshly.

Dr. Bias deserves the more credit for his progress in life, as he is entirely self-made.

Perhaps the following consideration will render both the "bias" and the "first-cousinship" at least intelligible.

I endeavoured to divest myself of all selfish bias, and loved more and more to inquire into religious subjects.

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 majority believe that the Church has a capitalistic bias.

Advertisement

Related Words

Discover More

What Is The Plural Of Bias?

Plural word for bias

The plural form of bias is biases, pronounced [ bahyuhs-eez ] or [ bahyuhs-ehz ]. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -s are also formed this way, including alias/aliases, moss/mosses, and lens/lenses.

However, bias is often used as a mass noun, meaning that in some instances bias may be used as either a singular or a plural form. The plural form biasses is obsolete and should be avoided.

Word of the Day

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


biarticulatebias-belted tire