partisanship

noun

par·​ti·​san·​ship ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship 

-sən-, 

-ˌzan-

chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-

: the quality or state of being partisan : strong and sometimes blind adherence to a particular party, faction, cause, or person

political partisanship

The Court is so riven by partisanship that justices even pick their law clerks in ways influenced by ideology …

—Anthony Lewis

The succession of Civil War, Reconstruction and the Gilded Age was marked by bitter partisanship, endemic corruption, appalling violence and a general sense that democracy was failing.

—Jon Grinspan

Synonyms of partisanship

• bias
• prejudice
• tendentiousness
• partiality

Examples of partisanship in a Sentence

partisanship can discourage any serious search for the truth

there's a pervasive partisanship in the company that prevents it from acknowledging that other companies are outpacing it with innovative ideas

Recent Examples on the Web

By itself, the topic could be framed as a national concern above partisanship. —Bill Barrow, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025

The bicentennial celebration was clouded by partisanship Allegations of politicization also aren’t without precedent. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

Her broad popularity is owed to her genuine disinterest in partisanship, coupled with an authentic love of her homeland. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025

In addition to speaking about her late husband’s new book, Kirk is expected to address the topic of gun violence and political partisanship. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for partisanship

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• citizenship
• companionship
• copartnership
• dictatorship
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship