# bias

Pronunciation: say "BY-uhs" /ˈbaɪəs/

## Noun

1. A tendency to lean toward or favor a particular thing, person, or viewpoint.
   - Simple: A tendency to favor one thing, person, or idea over others.
   - _Critics noted a clear bias in how the article framed the two candidates._
   - _He admitted his bias toward the home team colored his commentary._
3. The systematic difference between an estimator's expected value and the true population value, which distorts how well it represents the data.
   - Simple: A steady error in a result that makes it differ from the true value.
   - _The team corrected for sampling bias when estimating the population mean._
   - _Analysts reported the bias of each estimator alongside its variance._
8. The diagonal line across woven fabric, running between the lengthwise warp and crosswise weft threads.
   - Simple: The slanting direction across a woven cloth, running between its lengthwise and crosswise threads.
   - _Sewing along the bias gives the seam a little give._
   - _The dressmaker marked the bias before cutting the panels._
9. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment, such as at the waist, to reduce its circumference.
   - Simple: A wedge-shaped piece of cloth removed from a garment to make it smaller around.
   - _A neat bias at the waistline pulled the loose gown closer to her figure._
   - _The seamstress removed a bias from each hip to take in the skirt._
10. A voltage or current applied to an electronic device, such as a transistor, to set its operating point.
   - Simple: A steady voltage or current put into an electronic part to set how it works.
   - _Engineers adjusted the bias until the amplifier ran in its linear range._
   - _A small forward bias lets the diode conduct._
11. A fan's favorite member of a K-pop group.
   - Simple: Your favorite member of a K-pop group.
   - _He spent the whole concert filming his bias._
   - _Choosing a bias was hard because she loved every member equally._
12. The weighting or lopsided shape on one side of a bowls ball that makes it follow a curved path as it rolls.
   - Simple: The built-in lean of a bowls ball that makes it roll in a curve instead of straight.
   - _Reading the bias correctly is the heart of a good bowls delivery._
   - _He aimed wide, trusting the bias to bring the bowl back toward the target._

## Verb

2. To influence someone or something toward a particular outcome, away from neutrality.
   - Simple: To make someone or something lean toward one side, so it is no longer fair.
   - _The way a question is worded can bias respondents toward a particular answer._
   - _Editors must avoid wording that biases readers against the accused._
7. To apply a steady voltage or current to an electronic device in order to set its operating point.
   - Simple: To apply a small voltage or current to an electronic part to set how it works.
   - _Designers bias each transistor to fix its quiescent current._
   - _The diode is biased forward so that current can pass._

## Adjective

4. Leaning to one side; bulging or swelled on one side.
   - Simple: Leaning or tilted toward one side, and bulging more on that side.
   - _The carved beam appeared bias, one face swollen as if warped by damp._
   - _Her knitting came out bias, pulled tighter along one edge than the other._
5. Cut on a slant or diagonal across the grain of a fabric, rather than along the straight weave.
   - Simple: Cut at a slant across the weave of a cloth, not straight along it.
   - _A bias collar molds smoothly around the curve of the neck._
   - _Dressmakers favor bias panels where the fabric must hug the body._

## Adverb

6. In a slanting, crosswise, or diagonal manner.
   - Simple: In a slanting or diagonal direction, across rather than straight.
   - _The tailor always cut the trim bias so it would curve gently._
   - _Set the slats bias and the light filters through at an angle._

## Origin

First recorded in English around 1520 meaning "oblique line", it became a technical term in the game of bowls (c. 1560), which gave rise to its figurative use. It comes from Middle French 'biais' ("sideways, askance"), likely from Old Occitan 'biais' of obscure origin, most probably from Vulgar Latin *biaxius, "with two axes".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/bias (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).