partisanship

noun

par·​ti·​san·​ship ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce partisanship (audio)
-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

Examples of partisanship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It is not designed as a partisan document about partisanship. Dan Balz, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2023 Voters' opinions probably are being informed by partisanship, media portrayals -- including an increase in neighborhood websites and email listservs -- and factors such as public homelessness, drug use, shoplifting and other signs of disorder, policy and political experts said. Noah Bierman Los Angeles Times (tns), Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023 The canard that politicians and pop-music stars share style, rebellion, and originality was exposed during the Covid lockdowns through the shameless conformity and blatant partisanship so many showbiz folk displayed. Armond White, National Review, 8 Sep. 2023 In an era of bitter partisanship across the U.S., the trial is a rare instance of a political party seeking to hold one of its own to account for allegations of wrongdoing. Jake Bleiberg and Paul J. Weber, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 That partisanship doesn’t erode Freeman’s confidence in the Court. Caroline Curran, ABC News, 8 July 2023 People are discouraged by the partisanship and extremism in Ohio. Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 16 July 2023 But given the intensifying partisanship on Capitol Hill and with control of the Senate at stake, the old rules do not apply. Carl Hulse, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2023 Natalie is one such Democrat concerned about partisanship on the highest court. Caroline Curran, ABC News, 8 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'partisanship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of partisanship was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near partisanship

Cite this Entry

“Partisanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisanship. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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