unconscious bias
Americannoun
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deep, general patterns and shortcuts of cognitive processing that a person is unaware of and that underlie implicit bias.
Etymology
Origin of unconscious bias
First recorded in 1780–90
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.
Actress Mali Ann Rees said inclusivity was key to encouraging more people to speak Welsh, with "no excuse" for unconscious bias.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
Some hiring managers may have unconscious bias and may even be younger than you.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026
“Judge Monguia expressed regret and remorse for his actions, and said that he had taken steps to address unconscious bias and other matters that contributed to his misconduct.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025
Like the previous study, it used a technique to hide the result from the scientists until the end, mitigating any unconscious bias.
From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024
This is quite clearly the kind of unconscious bias that the IAT picks up on.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
