implicit bias

noun

plural implicit biases

: a bias or prejudice that is present but not consciously held or recognized

These studies reveal that students, nurses, doctors, police officers, employment recruiters, and many others exhibit implicit biases with respect to race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, social status, and other distinctions.

—J. T. Jost et al.

"Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers," she [Caroline Simard] said.

—Claire Cain Miller

Examples of implicit bias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Starbucks believed that allowing anyone access to the premises was the right decision, because of the implicit bias that occurred when people are denied access to tables and the bathrooms. —Doug Melville, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

Advocates say such a model can provide more equitable compensation to all staff so that pay is not reliant on factors such as customer satisfaction or implicit biases that may affect tipping behavior. —Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

That implicit bias prevents a lot of folks from sitting down with good aged rums and really giving them a chance. —Tony Sachs, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Pointer noted that the trial also had racial implications for some protesters, who have argued that bias may have played a factor in the perception of Neely as a threat, stoking questions about implicit bias. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above