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.

---

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

Finance textbooks teach you about confirmation bias and expected value.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

We humans are already prone to confirmation bias: We tend to believe the information and opinions that confirm what we already think, even if we’re wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 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