bias.

a systematic tendency that favors a perspective or distorts judgment, selection, or measurement

Use it for

Words that belong together

• selection bias
• measurement bias
• unconscious bias

On the page

The sampling procedure introduced selection bias.

The analysis distinguishes systematic bias from random error.

Acknowledging her own bias improved the historian's use of sources.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Academic. Bias need not be intentional. Statistical bias is systematic error, not merely political preference or random variation. Plural: biases. Related adjective: biased.