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

See Examples For:

confirmation bias

Today’s media-verse is so fractured and bifurcated along political lines, I just assumed that confirmation bias would drive most folks toward friendly sources, i.e. what they want to hear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

But there appears to be confirmation bias here.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 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

The backlash came after a preliminary review by the policing watchdog found "confirmation bias" influenced the decision to bar supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending Villa Park.

From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2026

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

From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2024