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

So I think there was some confirmation bias as well.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

But there appears to be confirmation bias here.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Adam Back, a prominent Bitcoin developer, said the high-profile investigation was a case of "confirmation bias" and that he is not the person known as Satoshi Nakamoto.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

AI’s sycophancy reinforces human confirmation bias, but users can employ tactics to counteract this tendency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

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

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2024