bias

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Inclination towards something.
2. (countable) The diagonal line between warp and weft in a woven fabric.
3. (countable) A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (such as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
4. (countable, uncountable) A voltage or current applied to an electronic device, such as a transistor electrode, to move its operating point to a desired part of its transfer function.
5. (countable, uncountable) The difference between the expectation of the sample estimator and the true population value, which reduces the representativeness of the estimator by systematically distorting it.
6. (countable, uncountable) In the games of crown green bowls and lawn bowls: a weight added to one side of a bowl so that as it rolls, it will follow a curved rather than a straight path; the oblique line followed by such a bowl; the lopsided shape or structure of such a bowl. In lawn bowls, the curved course is caused only by the shape of the bowl. The use of weights is prohibited.
7. (countable, uncountable) A person's favourite member of a K-pop band.

Verb

1. (transitive) To place bias upon; to influence.
2. To give a bias to.

Adj

1. Inclined to one side; swelled on one side.
2. Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.

Adv

In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally.

Synonyms

prejudice

partiality

preconception

tendency

inclination

trend

bent

diagonal

presupposition

penchant

slant

favoritism

bigotry

unfairness

deviation

propensity

disposition

offset

predetermine

favouritism

affect

predilection

systematic error

misjudgement

leaning

discrimination

affection

preconceived opinion

influence

shifting

slope

prepossess

predisposition

preference

polarization

pitch

partisanship

misunderstanding

misjudgment

partial

tilt

preoccupation

proclivity

drive

distort

displacement

biasing

askance

discriminate

direction

Translations

préjugé

Voreingenommenheit

sesgo

biais

prejuicio

pregiudizio

partialité

προκατάληψη

predisposición

influencer

Neigung

Vorurteil

parti pris

viés

vooroordeel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbaɪəs/

Etymology

c. 1520 in the sense "oblique line". As a technical term in the game of bowls c. 1560, whence the figurative use (c. 1570).
From Middle French biais, adverbially ("sideways, askance, against the grain") c. 1250, as a noun ("oblique angle, slant") from the late 16th century.
The French word is likely from Old Occitan biais, itself of obscure origin, most likely from Vulgar Latin *biaxius (“with two axes”).