bias
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a tendency to prefer one person or thing over another, often in a way that is unfair.
n.a systematic prejudice or inclination for or against one person, group, or idea, typically in a manner considered to be unfair or subjective.
Simple“The reporter was accused of bias because he only interviewed people from one political party.”
In context“The study was criticised for selection bias, as the researchers only recruited participants who already had a positive view of the product.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.a diagonal line across a piece of woven cloth.
n.the diagonal direction of a woven fabric, 45 degrees to the warp and weft threads, providing more stretch and drape.
Simple“The dress was cut on the bias so that the fabric would flow beautifully over her body.”
In context“Tailors often cut silk on the bias to exploit the natural elasticity of the weave, ensuring the garment contours to the wearer's figure.”
Usageoften used in the phrase 'on the bias'
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a systematic error in a study that makes the results inaccurate.
n.the difference between an estimator's expected value and the true value of the population parameter being estimated.
Simple“The survey had a clear bias because it only asked people who lived in expensive areas.”
In context“To eliminate observer bias, the clinical trial utilised a double-blind methodology where neither the patients nor the doctors knew who received the treatment.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a steady voltage or current applied to a device to help it work correctly.
n.a fixed DC voltage or current applied to a terminal of an electronic component to establish its operating point.
Simple“The engineer adjusted the bias of the transistor to improve the sound quality of the amplifier.”
In context“Incorrect bias settings in the vacuum tube stage resulted in significant harmonic distortion during high-gain passages.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.your favourite member of a music group, especially a K-pop band.
n.a term used within fandoms to identify an individual's preferred member of a musical group.
Simple“I love the whole group, but Jungkook is definitely my bias.”
In context“Fans often collect photocards specifically of their bias to trade with other members of the community.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to influence someone or something so they are no longer neutral.
v.to cause a person or process to have a prejudice or to be unfairly influenced.
Simple“The judge warned the jury not to let the media reports bias their decision.”
In context“The wording of the questionnaire was found to bias the respondents toward a specific, predetermined conclusion.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
adj.slanting or diagonal, especially when talking about cloth.
adj.cut or positioned diagonally across the grain of a fabric.
Simple“She used a bias binding to finish the curved edges of the quilt.”
In context“The designer preferred a bias cut for the evening gowns to achieve a more fluid silhouette.”
Usage avoid bias · bias exist · cultural bias
“He didn’t want to introduce bias into his decision-making.”