You're quite right: bits are bits, and the "signedness" or "unsignedness" of a given bit pattern depends strictly on your point of view.
Source: wiktionary
Unsignedness
Synonyms for "unsignedness"
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Sample sentences
3 total sentences available.
Under ANSI C, the wider type's signedness or unsignedness prevails if the resulting value can be stored in that type, otherwise unsignedness prevails.
Source: wiktionary
Earlier versions of GCC would try to preserve unsignedness.
Source: wiktionary