skew

verb

ˈskyü 

skewed; skewing; skews

intransitive verb

1

: to take an oblique course

2

: to look askance

transitive verb

1

: to make, set, or cut on the skew

2

: to distort especially from a true value or symmetrical form

Examples of skew in a Sentence

They were accused of skewing the facts to fit their theory.

He accused them of skewing the rules in their favor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wide-leg black jeans can sometimes skew either too grungy or too formal. —India Roby, Glamour, 8 June 2026

California election officials are still counting mail-in ballots, which skew more toward Democrats than votes cast on Election Day. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 7 June 2026

Masters, which has a Metacritic score of 54 and a B Cinema Score, opened in 3,677 screens with an audience that skewed heavily male (66 percent to 34 percent female). —Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 2026

Set in rural Minnesota and starring Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, and Brent Briscoe in the roles of the trio, A Simple Plan is often compared to the Coen brothers’ Fargo (1996), but the film skews more tragic than comic. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to escape, run obliquely, from Anglo-French *eskiuer, eschiver to escape, avoid — more at eschew

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing skew

• skew curve
• skew distribution
• skew lines
• skew-whiff

Rhymes for skew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

skew

verb

ˈskyü

1

: to take a slanting course : move or turn aside : swerve

2

: to distort from a true value or symmetrical form

skewed the facts to fit their theory