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

Two measures that will enforce the separation of boys and girls in sports — two measures that show common sense can prevail over partisanship. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Opponents see something considerably more troubling, namely politicians asking voters to weaken constitutional protections against partisan manipulation for the express purpose of partisanship. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 1 Nov. 2026

That also can lead to them focusing more heavily on partisanship when voting. — Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026

Coalition governments are not uncommon in the state, where politicians are fond of saying that pragmatism trumps partisanship. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

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