bias

[ bahy-uhs ]

/ ˈbaɪ əs /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bias ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Nearby words

biannual, biannulate, biarritz, biarticular, biarticulate, bias, bias binding, bias-belted tire, bias-ply tire, biased, biasedly

Idioms

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

SYNONYMS FOR bias

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

10 predispose, bend, incline, dispose.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bias ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR bias

1 impartiality.

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Related forms

sub·bi·as, nounsu·per·bi·as, noun

Synonym study

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.

Definition for bias (2 of 4)

Bias

[ bahy-uh s ]

/ ˈbaɪ əs /

noun

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

Definition for bias (3 of 4)

Bia

[ bahy-uh ]

/ ˈbaɪ ə /

noun

the ancient Greek personification of force: daughter of Pallas and Styx and sister of Cratus, Nike, and Zelos.

Definition for bias (4 of 4)

Beas

or Bi·as

[ bee-ahs ]

/ ˈbi ɑs /

noun

a river in NW India, flowing SW into the Sutlej River: one of the five rivers of the Punjab. 290 miles (470 km) long.

Ancient Hyph·a·sis

[hif-uh-sis] /ˈhɪf ə sɪs/.

Examples from the Web for bias

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
A basic fact will remain: The bias, whatever its components, is nauseating.
Why the Right Thinks Obama’s a Narcissist—and Why They’re Wrong|John McWhorter|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I asked Ferris if there was a bias or a hesitancy to recruit Native American kids.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own|Robert Silverman|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This highlights the problem with much of the research out there, which is bias.
How to Tell When a Scientific Study Is Total B.S.|Russell Saunders|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bias of his character, the visions of his reveries, and the cast of his figure and physiognomy, were decidedly military.
The Entail|John Galt
Nature intended him to play at bowls, and therefore clapt a bias upon him.
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. II (of 3)|Isaac Disraeli
The rifle was laid in the blanket somewhat on a bias to the rectangle blanket form.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Trace the girl and boy (Fig. 455) on bias cloth as you did the frog.
Indoor and Outdoor Recreations for Girls|Lina Beard
Vasari's bias against the Umbrian master is too marked for any of his attacks to be accepted without corroboration.
A Popular Handbook to the National Gallery, Volume I, Foreign Schools|Various

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

adjective

slanting obliquely; diagonala bias fold

adverb

obliquely; diagonally

verb -ases, -asing, -ased, -asses, -assing or -assed (tr)

(usually passive) to cause to have a bias; prejudice; influence

Derived Forms

biased or biassed, adjective

Word Origin for bias

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012