Bias: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone has a tendency to prefer one person, group, or thing over another, often in an unfair way. It can be both conscious and unconscious.

• Her reporting was criticized for showing bias towards the government.
• In order to avoid bias, the judges were chosen randomly.

Describes preconceived opinions or feelings, often negative, formed without proper knowledge or experience. It is usually directed towards people or groups.

• Her prejudice against people from other countries was evident.
• He faced prejudice because of his accent.

Similar to bias, partiality indicates an unfair preference for one side over another. It is often used in more formal contexts.

• His partiality for classical music is well known.
• Judges must avoid partiality to ensure justice.

Refers to giving unfairly favorable treatment to one person or group at the expense of others, often seen in informal settings like families or workplaces.

• The manager's favoritism created a toxic work environment.
• Teachers should avoid favoritism towards any student.

Used in situations where people are treated unfairly or unequally because of certain characteristics like race, gender, age, or disability. It often involves systematic issues.

• The law aims to prevent discrimination in the workplace.
• He was a victim of racial discrimination.

Refers to situations where something is not just or does not follow the rules of equality. It's a general term that can be applied to many scenarios.

• The players complained about the unfairness of the referee's decisions.
• She spoke out against the unfairness in the grading system.

Typically used to describe a preconceived opinion or feeling, either positive or negative, that affects judgment or behavior. It's often used in discussions about fairness and objectivity.

• His bias towards his favorite team was obvious during the match.
• She tried to avoid bias in her research by using a double-blind study.

Used to describe an unreasonable and often negative opinion formed without enough knowledge or thought. Strongly negative connotation, commonly used in social and political discussions.

• She faced prejudice due to her ethnic background.
• Prejudice against certain groups can lead to discrimination.

Used when referring to the ability to affect the development, behavior, or thinking of someone or something. Generally neutral, depends on the context whether it's positive or negative.

• His speech had a significant influence on the audience.
• Peer pressure can influence teenagers to make bad decisions.

Usually refers to making something biased or twisted in a particular direction, often statistically. This word often implies a negative impact on objectivity or accuracy.

• The survey results were skewed by the small sample size.
• The data may be skewed if not collected properly.

Often used metaphorically to describe how someone's view or perception is influenced, especially by emotions or preconceived notions. Can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation indicating a lack of objectivity.

• Her past experiences colored her view of the situation.
• The media report was colored by the journalist's personal opinions.

Used when talking about changing something from its original form or meaning, often in a way that is misleading or untrue. Typically has a negative connotation.

• The politician distorted the facts to fit his narrative.
• The lens can distort the image, making it look larger than it is.