- 1[uncountable, countable, usually singular] a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, or one side in an argument, often not based on fair judgement accusations of political bias in news programmes (= that reports are unfair and show favour to one political party) Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. Some institutions still have a strong bias against women. Wordfinderequalbias, discriminate, equal, feminism, homophobia, human right, marginalize, persecute, race, society CollocationsRace and immigrationPrejudice and racism experience/encounter racism/discrimination/prejudice/anti-semitism face/suffer persecution/discrimination fear/escape from/flee racial/political/religious persecution constitute/be a form of racial/race discrimination reflect/reveal/show/have a racial/cultural bias be biased/be prejudiced against (especially British English) black people/(both especially North American English) people of color/African Americans/Asians/Africans/Indians, etc. discriminate against minority groups/minorities perpetuate/conform to/fit/defy a common/popular/traditional/negative stereotype overcome/be blinded by deep-seated/racial/(especially North American English) race prejudice entrench/perpetuate racist attitudes hurl/shout (especially British English) racist abuse; (especially North American English) a racist/racial/ethnic slur challenge/confront racism/discrimination/prejudice combat/fight (against)/tackle blatant/overt/covert/subtle/institutional/systemic racismRace and society damage/improve (especially British English) race relations practise/ (especially US English) practice (racial/religious) tolerance/segregation bridge/break down/transcend cultural/racial barriers encourage/promote social integration outlaw/end discrimination/slavery/segregation promote/embrace/celebrate cultural diversity conform to/challenge/violate (accepted/established/prevailing/dominant) social/cultural norms live in a multicultural society attack/criticize multiculturalism fight for/struggle for/promote racial equality perpetuate/reinforce economic and social inequality introduce/be for/be against (British English) positive discrimination/(especially North American English) affirmative action support/be active in/play a leading role in the civil rights movementImmigration control/restrict/limit/encourage immigration attract/draw a wave of immigrants assist/welcome refugees house/shelter refugees and asylum seekers smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK deport/repatriate illegal immigrants/failed asylum seekers assimilate/integrate new immigrants employ/hire migrant workers exploit/rely on (cheap/illegal) immigrant labour/(especially US English) labor apply for/gain/obtain/be granted/be denied (full) citizenship have/hold dual citizenship Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveclear, definite, marked, … verb + biashave, demonstrate, display, … bias + verbcreep in, exist, occur, … prepositionwith bias, without bias, with a bias, … See full entry See related entries: Social justice
- 2[countable, usually singular] an interest in one thing more than others; a special ability The course has a strong practical bias. Leila had a marked scientific bias.
- 3[uncountable, countable] the fact that the results of research or an experiment are not accurate because a particular factor has not been considered when collecting the information If a response rate is low, the risk of bias in the findings will be greater.
- 4[uncountable, singular] the bias of a piece of cloth is an edge cut diagonally across the threads The skirt is cut on the bias. a bias strip Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘oblique line’; also as an adjective meaning ‘oblique’): from French biais, from Provençal, perhaps based on Greek epikarsios ‘oblique’.Extra examples Bias often creeps in through the wording of questions. He claims that America’s media has a liberal bias. The data was checked for potential biases. The newspaper has a clear bias towards the Conservative Party. The newspaper was free from political bias. We have now tried to correct the bias in our original report. a bias against women a bias in favour of small firms a bias towards/toward small companies a newspaper with a strong left-wing bias Claims of left-wing bias in teaching materials seem to be unfounded. Employers must consider all candidates without bias. In British universities there was a bias towards pure science. It’s difficult for any of us to look at a situation without some form of cultural bias. Many golf clubs are bastions of class bias. There are often accusations of political bias in news reports. There is a systematic bias in favour of employers in this country. There is plenty of evidence of gender bias in the classroom. These classes have a strong practical bias.
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