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

• bias
• favor
• nonobjectivity
• one-sidedness
• parti pris
• partiality
• ply
• prejudice
• tendentiousness

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

The film explores the rise of political partisanship and corporate control of the media, and shows how Oliphant used biting wit and masterful draftsmanship to take on the powers that be. World Premiere. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025

Unlike any other mode of communication, mathematics offers a starting point rooted not in emotion or partisanship, but in objectivity — where evidence, data and reason lead the conversation. —Vicki Abeles, Mercury News, 7 May 2025

But more recently, partisanship has affected the setting of standards. —David J. Vogel, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025

During a time of intense partisanship, those numbers speak volumes about the importance of public lands to everyday Americans. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 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