biased

adjective

bi·​ased ˈbī-əst 

1

: exhibiting or characterized by bias

2

: tending to yield one outcome more frequently than others in a statistical experiment

a biased coin

3

: having an expected value different from the quantity or parameter estimated

a biased estimate

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Bias vs. Biased

In recent years, we have seen more evidence of the adjectival bias in constructions like “a bias news program” instead of the more usual “a biased news program.” The reason is likely because of aural confusion: the -ed of biased may be filtered out by hearers, which means that bias and biased can sound similar in the context of normal speech. They are not interchangeable, however. The adjective that means “exhibited or characterized by an unreasoned judgment” is biased (“a biased news story”). There is an adjective bias, but it means “diagonal” and is used only of fabrics (“a bias cut across the fabric”).

Synonyms

• one-sided
• parti pris
• partial
• partisan
• prejudiced

Examples of biased in a Sentence

It's also politically biased, full of slighting references to the Whigs, whom Johnson detested, and imperiously chauvinistic, wherever possible dismissing or making light of words imported from French. —Charles McGrath, New York Times Book Review, 4 Dec. 2005

I am willing to believe that history is for the most part inaccurate and biased, but what is peculiar to our age is the abandonment of the idea that history could be truthfully written. In the past people deliberately lied, or they unconsciously colored what they wrote, or they struggled after the truth, well knowing that they must make many mistakes; but in each case they believed that 'the facts' existed and were more or less discoverable. —Leon Wieseltier, New Republic, 17 Feb. 2003

The information experts say that it's dangerous to conclude very much from talking to people because you will never interact with a scientifically selected random sample. Thus, the information you derive from meeting people is biased or anecdotal. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 Mar. 2002

But even if you think I may be biased about the book's conclusions, please trust me about its awful prose. —James Martin, Commonweal, 3 May 2002

She is too biased to write about the case objectively.

He is biased against women.

The judges of the talent show were biased toward musical acts.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since standardized testing tends to produce biased results, companies that use aptitude tests to screen out candidates may be creating unintentional liabilities as well as one-dimensional applicant profiles. —Lori Landrum, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

The defense will seek to depict him as a law-abiding leader who was a victim of careless and biased police investigations. —Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Although the sample was potentially biased because families of players with symptoms were more likely to participate in the program, the results strongly link CTE to football head trauma. —Beryl Rosenstein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Dec. 2024

The defense will seek to depict Mr. Netanyahu as a law-abiding leader who was a victim of careless and biased police investigations. —Tia Goldenburg, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see bias entry 1

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1