biased

1 of 2

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

biased

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of bias entry 2

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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 of biased

Adjective

• partial
• hostile
• distorted
• partisan
• prejudiced

Examples of biased in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Relevant and reliable numbers reveal that under and throughout de Blasio’s two mayoral terms the NYPD resumed its aggressive, starkly biased tactics. — Robert Gangi, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

The college’s Board of Trustees subsequently successfully sought to disqualify Ruiz from handling future cases involving the college and the presidential library, arguing that she was personally biased in favor of Dunn. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Netanyahu and his allies dismiss criticism as the product of entrenched antisemitism and cast institutions like the United Nations as irredeemably biased. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

The group has been a frequent target of attacks by conservative critics who claim the nonprofit is politically biased. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see bias entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for biased

• driest
• highest
• unbiased