Meaning & use

confirmation bias

noun·Academic

The tendency to favor information that confirms one's existing beliefs while ignoring contrary evidence.

See it in a sentence

Confirmation bias led him to read only articles that supported his political opinions.

Good scientists actively try to counter confirmation bias by seeking evidence that might disprove their theory.

A note on using this word

Confirmation bias is a well-documented pattern in psychology, not a flaw reserved for other people's reasoning.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “confirmation bias”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.