Bias Definition

bīəs
biased, biases, biasing, biassed, biasses, biassing
noun
biases
A line going diagonally across the grain of fabric.
Cut the cloth on the bias.
American Heritage
A line, cut or sewn diagonally across the weave of cloth, as in making seams, binding tape, etc.
Webster's New World
A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.
American Heritage
A mental leaning or inclination; partiality; bent.
Webster's New World
An unfair act or policy stemming from prejudice.
American Heritage
Antonyms:
adjective
Slanting or diagonal; oblique.
A bias fold.
American Heritage
Slanting; diagonal.
Webster's New World
Inclined to one side; swelled on one side.
Wiktionary
Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
Wiktionary
verb
biased, biases, biasing, biassed, biassing
To influence in a particular, typically unfair direction.
American Heritage
To cause to have a bias; influence; prejudice.
Webster's New World
To apply a small voltage to (a grid).
American Heritage
To apply a bias to (an electrode)
Webster's New World

To place bias upon; to influence.

Our prejudices bias our views.
Wiktionary
Antonyms:
  • be just
  • be fair
  • be impartial
adverb
Diagonally.
Webster's New World
Awry.
Webster's New World

In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally.

To cut cloth bias.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
pronoun
One of the Seven Sages of Greece from Priene living in the 6th century BC.
Wiktionary
idiom
on the bias
  • diagonally; obliquely; specif., cut or sewn diagonally across the weave
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Bias

Noun

Singular:
bias
Plural:
biases, biasses

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Bias

Origin of Bias

  • French biais slant from Provençal perhaps ultimately from Greek epikarsios slanted sker-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle French biasis, from Old Provençal biais (“way, angle, slant”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Ancient Greek Βίας (Bias).

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to bias using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

bias