confirmation bias

American  

[kon-fer-mey-shuhn bahy-uhs] / ˌkɒn fərˈmeɪ ʃən ˌbaɪ əs /

noun

Psychology.

1. bias that results from the tendency to process and analyze information in such a way that it supports one’s preexisting ideas and convictions: Unfortunately, their experimental method was proven invalid due to confirmation bias.

   Confirmation bias is a major issue when we get all our news from social media sites.

   Unfortunately, their experimental method was proven invalid due to confirmation bias.

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Etymology

Origin of confirmation bias

Coined in 1960 by English psychologist Peter Wason

Example Sentences

But there appears to be confirmation bias here.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

It’s hard to imagine a scientific question as susceptible to confirmation bias as “Can Dogs Talk?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Some studies have linked belief in horoscopes and zodiac signs to "confirmation bias", the tendency to believe or remember information that aligns with our pre-existing beliefs, and interpret it selectively to support them.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2024

Thanks to cognitive biases like confirmation bias, they might even appear to work.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2024

I will never be able to prevent my instincts that point me in the direction of zero-sum bias or confirmation bias, but I will say that the awareness of them has been so soothing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024