1
: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
a partial solution
a partial payment
2
3
: markedly fond of someone or something
—used with to
partial to pizza
She's partial to tall men with blond hair.
Examples of partial in a Sentence
Adjective
These plants prefer full sun or partial shade.
The partial ban on immigration has been lifted.
His latest play was deemed only a partial success by the critics.
a partial eclipse of the sun
He wears a partial denture.
She suggested a partial solution to the problem.
A referee must not be partial toward either team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Amick, New York Times, 9 July 2025
That might mean comparing your contract to thousands of others in your industry, identifying subtle overcharges and then engaging the vendor directly to secure a partial refund or a more competitive rate.
—Eric Steele, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials.
—David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for partial
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Adjective
Harden, similarly, has only a partial guarantee for his second season (which is a player option).
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 9 July 2025
That might mean comparing your contract to thousands of others in your industry, identifying subtle overcharges and then engaging the vendor directly to secure a partial refund or a more competitive rate.
—Eric Steele, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
The next two solar eclipses are partials on March 29, 2025 (Europe, northern Asia, north and west Africa, North America, northern South America, the Atlantic and Arctic) and Sept. 21, 2025 (southern Australia, the Pacific, the Atlantic and Antarctica).
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials.
—David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for partial
Cite this Entry
“Partial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partial. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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