skew

1 of 3

verb

ˈskyü 

skewed; skewing; skews

intransitive verb

1

: to take an oblique course

2

: to look askance

transitive verb

1

: to make, set, or cut on the skew

2

: to distort especially from a true value or symmetrical form

skew

2 of 3

adjective

1

: set, placed, or running obliquely : slanting

2

: more developed on one side or in one direction than another : not symmetrical

skew

3 of 3

noun

: a deviation from a straight line : slant

Examples of skew in a Sentence

Verb

They were accused of skewing the facts to fit their theory.

He accused them of skewing the rules in their favor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Magda Teter Jewish Middlemen, Archival Myopia The story of two Jewish trading families during the last decades of the Regency of Algiers is skewed by being told through the perspectives of only European and American actors. —Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024

Meghan and later Harry did, however, back campaigns calling for Americans to go out and vote alongside statements that appeared to skew towards evicting Trump from the White House. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Its user base leans heavily into the crypto community, as shown by a distinct skew toward pro-Trump bets. —Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Though the trend appears to be accelerating, this antidemocratic skew long predates the Trump presidency. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Noun

Because of New York’s overwhelmingly Democratic skew, in 2021, the vast majority of winners of the Democratic primaries for City Council went on to win the general election. —Alexander Protopapas, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2024

Back then, bitcoin's 180-day skew and the 365-day skew peaked above 3.15% and 1%, respectively. —Omkar Godbole, Forbes, 3 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to escape, run obliquely, from Anglo-French *eskiuer, eschiver to escape, avoid — more at eschew

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skew

• skew curve
• skew distribution
• skew lines
• skew-whiff

Kids Definition

skew

verb

ˈskyü

1

: to take a slanting course : move or turn aside : swerve

2

: to distort from a true value or symmetrical form

skewed the facts to fit their theory