skew

1 of 3

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

skew

2 of 3

adjective

1

: set, placed, or running obliquely : slanting

2

: more developed on one side or in one direction than another : not symmetrical

skew

3 of 3

noun

: a deviation from a straight line : slant

Examples of skew in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The one-time influx of government money related to the COVID-19 pandemic helped skew the organization’s long-term financial planning, Hunter said. —Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2024

There’s another reason that big cities skew the data. —Samantha Delouya, CNN, 9 July 2024

Adjective

She’s also been subjected to various displays of vitriol online and only recently — at the advice of Shaq — stopped reading the comments, some of which skew political. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2024

The results of some of these primary elections could determine the results in the general election, especially in areas where voters heavily skew towards one political party. —John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 7 May 2024

Noun

Because of New York’s overwhelmingly Democratic skew, in 2021, the vast majority of winners of the Democratic primaries for City Council went on to win the general election. —Alexander Protopapas, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2024

Back then, bitcoin's 180-day skew and the 365-day skew peaked above 3.15% and 1%, respectively. —Omkar Godbole, Forbes, 3 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skew

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

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