: 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
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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”).
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. 2005I 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. 2003The 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. 2002But 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 WebFor my explanation of how this biased infusion happens and what to do about it, see the link here and the link here.—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024 Public confidence in these institutions is subpar because of biased media reporting.—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 11 Aug. 2024 The university may be forced to end the inconsistent and biased enforcement of its free-speech policies as revealed in the aftermath of October 7.—Samantha Harris, National Review, 10 Aug. 2024 Over the years, billions of dollars have been funneled into local law enforcement, allowing police to acquire more technology and equipment for biased crime control and protest suppression efforts.—Philip V. McHarris, TIME, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for biased
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.
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