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Bias

BY-us /ˈbaɪəs/

nounverbB2GRESATTOEFLIELTS

formalinformal

Noun: Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. Verb: To cause to feel or show inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something.

Bias can be conscious or unconscious, explicit or implicit. It's not always negative, as a 'bias towards action' can be positive, but in social contexts, it usually implies unfairness or a skewed perspective.

The story behind the word. The word 'bias' entered English from Old French 'biais,' meaning 'slant, slope, oblique.' This term originally referred to a diagonal line or cut, especially in tailoring. Over time, it developed a metaphorical sense of an inclination or tendency, particularly one that causes a person to lean unfairly towards one side. The idea of a 'slant' in judgment or perspective perfectly captures its modern meaning of prejudice.

Word relationships

prejudice: Often implies a preconceived negative opinion not based on reason or actual experience.
partiality: A strong inclination toward one side or party.
slant: A particular tendency or point of view, especially a biased one.

objectivity: The quality of being unbiased and factual.
impartiality: Fairness and lack of prejudice.
neutrality: The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict or disagreement.

Commonly confused with

Opinion: An 'opinion' is a belief or judgment. A 'bias' is an inclination that influences opinions, often unfairly.

Word family

biased (adjective): Having or showing prejudice for or against something.
unbiased (adjective): Without bias or prejudice; impartial.

Collocations

unconscious bias
inherent bias
gender bias
racial bias
cognitive bias
confirm a bias

Idioms & expressions

bias towards (something) - an inclination or preference for something

Example sentences

"Journalists strive for objectivity, but subtle biases can still influence how stories are framed and presented to the public." Discussing journalistic ethics.
"The survey questions were carefully designed to avoid any wording that might bias respondents' answers." Analyzing data collection.

Memory hook

Think of a 'BY-PASS' road that takes you around the main route, giving you a skewed view. A BIAS is a skewed or unfair view. By-pass, skewed view

When not to use

Avoid using 'bias' as a synonym for 'opinion' or 'preference' if the negative connotation of unfairness or prejudice is not intended. A preference for chocolate ice cream is not a 'bias' in the critical sense.

Fun facts

The term 'bias' is also used in statistics to describe a systematic error in a measurement or sampling process.
In sports like bowling or lawn bowls, a 'bias' refers to the weight distribution of the ball that causes it to curve.