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unconscious bias

American  
[uhn-kon-shuhs bahy-uhs] / ʌnˈkɒn ʃəs ˈbaɪ əs /

noun

  1. implicit bias.

  2. 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.

See Examples For:

Ridding oneself of unconscious bias can be a daily practice, so I hope this 60-something single man does not sacrifice too much of his downtime for overtime.

From MarketWatch ● May 20, 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

The officer confirmed she had completed equality training, including on unconscious bias and discriminatory stereotypes, and said she was aware of stereotypes relating to black people.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2025

"That is the power of unconscious bias," said Bohnet, who co-wrote a book called "Make Work Fair" about redesigning the workplace using data.

From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2025

This is quite clearly the kind of unconscious bias that the IAT picks up on.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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