uhn-BEYE-uhst
/ˌʌˈnbaɪəst/
unbiased is pronounced uhn-BEYE-uhst (/ˌʌˈnbaɪəst/). Unbiased describes a stance or method that is free from prejudice or preconceived opinion; objective, fair, and not influenced by personal interests. It indicates a neutral perspective that seeks evidence-based conclusions rather than favoritism. In use, it often characterizes judgment, reporting, or evaluation that aims to treat all sides equally.
Unbiased describes a stance or method that is free from prejudice or preconceived opinion; objective, fair, and not influenced by personal interests. It indicates a neutral perspective that seeks evidence-based conclusions rather than favoritism. In use, it often characterizes judgment, reporting, or evaluation that aims to treat all sides equally.
- Common Mistakes • You may misplace the stress on the first syllable (un-BAI-sed) instead of the second (un-bi-ased). Focus on the diphthong /aɪ/ in the stressed syllable to anchor your rhythm. • You might render the final /st/ as a soft /s/ or with the t not released; aim for a clear alveolar /t/ with a crisp /s/ preceding it. • You could reduce the final /əst/ to a quick /st/; maintain a light but audible schwa before the stop. Practice isolating the three segments and then blend.
"The jury must remain unbiased to ensure a fair verdict."
"Her report was praised for being unbiased and thorough."
"We need unbiased feedback before we make a decision."
You pronounce it as /ənˈbaɪ.əst/ in US and UK: the first syllable is a schwa, the second syllable bears primary stress and contains the /aɪ/ diphthong (like 'buy'), and the final syllable ends with /əst/. In careful speech you’ll hear the /b/ clearly, the /aɪ/ is a smooth glide from /b/ into /aɪ/, and the /st/ cluster lands with a crisp /s/ followed by /t/. Audio reference: practice with any IPA-based dictionary or pronunciation resources; say it slowly: un-BI-ased, then connect it in natural speech, “an BI-ased.”
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable or spreading it; ensure primary stress on /ˈbaɪ/ (the second syllable). 2) Slurring the /b/ into a weak /m/ or skipping the /b/; keep a clear bilabial stop before /aɪ/. 3) Vowel reduction in the final /ɪ-st/ cluster; avoid turning /əst/ into /əst/ or /ɪst/. Correct by practicing the sequence: un- (unstressed schwa) + BI (primary stress with /aɪ/) + ased (/əst/).
Across accents: US: /ənˈbaɪ.əst/ with rhotic preferencing; UK: /ənˈbaɪ.æst/ (some speakers have a lighter final syllable and non-rhotic r-coloring absent); AU: /ənˈbaɪ.əst/ similar to US but with more clipped final /t/ and vowel quality in /ɐ/ or /ə/. The key differences are the vowel in the second syllable (/aɪ/ in all; but neighboring vowels may shift slightly, and the final /st/ can be realized as an alveolar stop with less aspiration in some Australian speech). Listen for rhoticity and the length of the /aɪ/ diphthong in American English.
The difficulty lies in the /aɪ/ diphthong’s precise tongue position and the transition between /b/ and the nucleus of /aɪ/. Also, the /st/ cluster requires crisp articulatory timing; in rapid speech you may merge /d/ or swallow the /t/. Finally, the initial schwa can be de-emphasized if you’re speaking quickly, risking a mislocated primary stress. Practice by isolating the 3-syllable rhythm, focusing on the /ˈbaɪ/ nucleus, then connecting to /əst/.
A unique aspect is the non-prominence of the first syllable; the two primary cues are the bold /ˈbaɪ/ stress and the clear /st/ ending. Unlike many two-syllable words, there’s no silent letter; the emphasis on the diphthong /aɪ/ requires a distinct mouth opening and glide. The initial /ə/ in the first syllable is reduced to a weak schwa; the ɪ in the base word is not pronounced separately, so you shouldn’t add extra syllables.
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- US vs UK vs AU • US: /ənˈbaɪ.əst/ with rhotics; final /st/ is crisp and you may hear a strong /ɪ/ in nearby words; /aɪ/ is a strong diphthong. • UK: /ənˈbaɪ.əst/ with non-rhotic tendencies; vowel qualities are slightly more centralized; stress remains on /aɪ/. • AU: similar to US but with more clipped final consonant and slightly flatter vowels; /ɜː/ or /ə/ in unstressed syllables shows more centralized vowel shifts; keep accurate /aɪ/ and crisp /st/. Always consult IPA and practice with listening exercises to detect small shifts.
Unbiased is formed from the prefix un- meaning not, combined with biased, which comes from the old French biais and bias, ultimately from the Latin lateralis ‘side’ or ‘bias’ in the sense of a slope or inclination. The root biased appeared in English in the 17th–18th centuries. The sense evolved from “leaning toward a side” to “favoring one side,” and the prefix un- broadens to negate that leaning, yielding ‘not biased’ by the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Today, unbiased is used in formal and informal contexts to denote absence of prejudice, impartiality, and objectivity, especially in journalism, research, and evaluation. First known usages align with early modern English texts discussing fairness, later coalescing into modern usage with emphasis on scientific and ethical neutrality.
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Words that rhyme with "unbiased"
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