implicit bias

noun

plural implicit biases

: a bias or prejudice that is present but not consciously held or recognized

These studies reveal that students, nurses, doctors, police officers, employment recruiters, and many others exhibit implicit biases with respect to race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, social status, and other distinctions.

—J. T. Jost et al.

"Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers," she [Caroline Simard] said.

—Claire Cain Miller

Examples of implicit bias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These patients already have different social determinants of health like proximity to care and the consequences of implicit bias. —Susan Rinkunas, refinery29.com, 28 Oct. 2024

The second intervention to reduce bias was inspired by research that found that implicit bias is exacerbated under time pressure when people face fatigue or cognitive overload. —Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

In recent years, as national conversations around racial bias in policing have accelerated, many police departments have implemented programs such as implicit bias training to establish fairer enforcement. —David Levinson, The Conversation, 27 Sep. 2024

The results showed that participants took significantly longer to associate women’s names with financial jobs, suggesting an implicit bias against women in these roles. —Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above