bias

⁴bi·as

verb \ˈbī-əs\

bi·ased or bi·assedbi·as·ing or bi·as·sing

Definition of BIAS

transitive verb

1

: to give a settled and often prejudiced outlook to <his background biases him against foreigners>

2

: to apply a slight negative or positive voltage to (as a transistor)

Examples of BIAS

1. I don't want to bias you against the movie, but I thought the book was much better.
2. The circumstances could bias the results of the survey.
3. Unfortunately, his convictions are not clearly and logically developed; they mostly lurk in the background biasing his reporting. He does not always give the reader a fair chance to follow the arguments of the actors—even those with whom he ardently agrees. —Leonard Silk, New York Times Book Review24 Feb. 1980

Origin of BIAS

(see ¹bias)

First Known Use: circa 1628

Related to BIAS

Synonyms: prejudice, poison, turn

Related Words: dispose, incline, predispose; influence, prepossess; convince, persuade, suggest

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See Synonym Discussion at incline