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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”).
Examples of biased in a Sentence
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.
Mira Cheng, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Its clean layout of objective information contrasted with the ostentation and flash of colorful, biased food advertising.
—TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
The company pointed to the technology’s opaque results and potentially biased outcomes.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
From helping to save New York City during the 1907 panic to pulling a gun on a man who had threatened her son, Hetty Green was a complex character whose legacy has, in many ways, been tainted by biased coverage that focused on her miserliness.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2024
The defense’s survey firm has already determined that Latah County is biased against Kohberger, Taylor told Judge.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2024
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s office was barred Friday from prosecuting a San Leandro police officer after a judge found that her office was too biased to fairly oversee the case, according to the officer’s attorney.
—Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
The president has weakened some of the institutions that have underpinned Mexico’s 21st-century transition to democracy, calling them expensive and biased toward the opposition.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
The software is also not programmed to look for patterns such as clothing, behavior or skin tone, to ensure the software is not inherently biased towards any one student or group of students, Acheson said.
—Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biased.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
see bias entry 1
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near biased
Cite this Entry
“Biased.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biased. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on biased
Nglish: Translation of biased for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of biased for Arabic Speakers
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