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Synonyms

biased

American  
[bahy-uhst] / ˈbaɪ əst /
especially British, biassed

adjective

  1. having or showing bias or prejudice.

    They gave us a biased report on immigration trends.


Other Word Forms

  • biasedly adverb
  • nonbiased adjective

Etymology

Origin of biased

First recorded in 1605–15; bias + -ed 2

Explanation

When a skirt is cut at an angle, with one side higher than the other, it has a bias cut. Being biased is kind of lopsided too: a biased person favors one side or issue over another. While biased can just mean having a preference for one thing over another, it also is synonymous with "prejudiced," and that prejudice can be taken to the extreme. Sometimes a person is so biased, or is leaning so far in one direction, that it's hard to see the other position, creating unfairness in an argument or decision. Often, though, it's used more lightly: "My mom makes the best brownies in the world, but I might be a little biased."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing biased

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ollie: Yeah, just because sometimes they know how… it's easy to speak to your friends and stuff when they come and watch you, but they've got a biased opinion.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

“We call on them to withdraw from this biased forum.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

“Due to current regulatory gaps, many financial professionals are free to offer biased or conflicted advice, putting commissions or other compensation above the investor’s best interests.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

"We're a biased world, so the training is done on biased data," Hall said.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

He realized that M. Bouc was biased in the matter.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie