What does bias mean?

Definitions for bias
ˈbaɪ əsbias

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word bias.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. bias, prejudice, preconceptionnoun

    a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation

  2. diagonal, biasadjective

    a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to a side of the fabric

  3. biasverb

    slanting diagonally across the grain of a fabric

    "a bias fold"

  4. biasverb

    influence in an unfair way

    "you are biasing my choice by telling me yours"

  5. bias, predetermineverb

    cause to be biased

Wiktionary

  1. biasnoun

    inclination towards something; predisposition, partiality, prejudice, preference, predilection

  2. biasnoun

    the diagonal line between warp and weft in a woven fabric

  3. biasnoun

    a voltage or current applied for example to a transistor electrode

  4. biasnoun

    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

  5. biasnoun

    In the game of crown green 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.

  6. biasverb

    To place bias upon; to influence.

    Our prejudices bias our views.

  7. Biasnoun

    One of the Seven Sages of Greece from Priene living in the 6th century BC.

  8. Etymology: From Βίας.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Biasadverb

    It seems to be used adverbially in the following passage, conformably to the French, mettre une chose de biais, to give any thing a wrong interpretation.

    Every action that hath gone before,
    Whereof we have record, trial did draw
    Bias and thwart, not answering the aim. William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

  2. BIASnoun

    Etymology: biais, Fr. said to come from bihay, an old Gaulish word, signifying cross, or thwart.

    Madam, we’ll play at bowls ————
    ———— ’Twill make me think the world is full of rubs,
    And that my fortune runs against the bias. William Shakespeare, R. II.

    You have been mistook:
    But nature to her bias drew in that. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night.

    This is that boasted bias of thy mind,
    By which one way to dulness ’tis inclin’d. John Dryden, Mackfl.

    Morality influences mens lives, and gives a bias to all their actions. John Locke.

    Wit and humour, that expose vice and folly, furnish useful diversions. Raillery, under such regulations, unbends the mind from severer contemplations, without throwing it off from its proper bias. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 45.

    Thus nature gives us, let it check our pride,
    The virtue nearest to our vice ally’d;
    Reason the bias turns to good or ill. Alexander Pope, Essay on Man.

    As for the religion of our poet, he seems to have some little bias towards the opinions of Wickliff. John Dryden, Fab. Preface.

  3. To Biasverb

    To incline to some side; to balance one way; to prejudice.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    Were I in no more danger to be misled by ignorance, than I am to be biassed by interest, I might give a very perfect account. John Locke.

    A desire leaning to either side, biasses the judgment strangely; by indifference for every thing but truth, you will be excited to examine. Isaac Watts, Improvement of the Mind.

Wikipedia

  1. Bias

    Bias is a disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases for or against an individual, a group, or a belief. In science and engineering, a bias is a systematic error. Statistical bias results from an unfair sampling of a population, or from an estimation process that does not give accurate results on average.

ChatGPT

  1. bias

    Bias refers to a disproportionate or skewed inclination or prejudice for or against an idea, individual, group, or thing that results in an unfair judgment or decision-making. It often results in a lack of objectivity, typically based on personal opinions, experiences, stereotypes or societal norms. Biases can manifest in various forms, such as racial or gender bias, and can occur consciously or unconsciously.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Biasnoun

    a weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line

  2. Biasnoun

    a leaning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent; inclination

  3. Biasnoun

    a wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference

  4. Biasnoun

    a slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias

  5. Biasadjective

    inclined to one side; swelled on one side

  6. Biasadjective

    cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth

  7. Biasadverb

    in a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias

  8. Biasverb

    to incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess

Wikidata

  1. Bias

    Bias is an inclination of temperaments or outlook to present or hold a partial perspective at the expense of alternatives in reference to objects, people, or groups. Anything biased generally is one-sided and therefore lacks a neutral point of view. Bias can come in many forms and is often considered to be synonymous with prejudice or bigotry.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Bias

    bī′as, n. a bulge or greater weight on one side of a bowl (in the game of bowling), making it slope or turn to one side: a slant or leaning to one side: a one-sided inclination of the mind, prejudice: any special influence that sways the mind.—v.t. to cause to turn to one side: to prejudice or prepossess:—pa.p. bī′ased or bī′assed.—ns. Bī′as-draw′ing (Shak.), a turn awry; Bī′asing, a bias or inclination to one side. [Fr. biais, of dubious origin; Diez suggests L. bifax, bifacem, two-faced.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Bias

    one of the seven wise men of Greece, born at Priene, in Ionia; lived in the 6th century B.C.; many wise sayings are ascribed to him; was distinguished for his indifference to possessions, which moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves break through and steal.

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

  1. Bias

    In polarized relay the adjustment of the tongue to lie normally against one or the other contact. (See Relay, Polarized.) Fig. 58. RESISTANCE COILS SHOWING BIFILAR WINDING.

Suggested Resources

  1. bias

    Quotes by bias -- Explore a large variety of famous quotes made by bias on the Quotes.net website.

  2. BIAS

    What does BIAS stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the BIAS acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. BIAS

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bias is ranked #5339 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Bias surname appeared 6,518 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 would have the surname Bias.

    51% or 3,329 total occurrences were White.
    30.1% or 1,962 total occurrences were Black.
    12.8% or 838 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    3.7% or 247 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    1.4% or 92 total occurrences were Asian.
    0.7% or 50 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'bias' in Nouns Frequency: #2441

Anagrams for bias »

  1. IBSA

  2. isba

  3. absi

  4. bais

How to pronounce bias?

How to say bias in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of bias in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of bias in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of bias in a Sentence

  1. Rob Thomas:

    Trust is essential — being able to use AI that you can explain, that's free from bias, that's trusted.

  2. Seattle Seahawks:

    Many folks today have called this an incident of racial-bias policing, that police officers focused solely on the race of the individual that they were going to stop. I can tell you as I stand here today, I see no evidence of that.

  3. Valerie Adams-Bass:

    This is important because most Black children are taught by White and other non-Black teachers who often assume Black children are low achievers or dislike schools, black children are also overlooked for AP courses and other opportunities that expose and prepare them for college based on racial bias. Having more Black history knowledge meant youth had high career aspirations, perhaps in spite of teacher perceptions.

  4. Oregon State Police:

    As an agency that is committed to eliminating racial profiling and implicit bias in policing, these allegations are being meticulously reviewed and we are compiling as much information as possible, the agency understands the importance of vigorously investigating these allegations and is taking a serious look at the incident.

  5. Natalie Cooper:

    We were quite surprised by this as we thought things would be getting better, it could be unconscious bias where people don't even realize they're selecting males, it could be passive in that males are easier to catch or easier to see in the wild, or maybe conservation concerns leading collectors to avoid females.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

bias#1#6805#10000

Translations for bias

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"bias." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/bias>.

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