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

Avoiding partisanship – but not laughter But despite her passion for work, Keane found time to enjoy the Capitol’s lighter moments. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026

Unfortunately, hyper-partisanship rather than truth-seeking has become the new norm in our state and national governments. —Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026

Reid seemed to truly believe, despite the partisanship that suffused the column, that the Senate had been badly damaged. —Jon Ralston, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026

Ingoglia has offered buffoonish partisanship, not serious auditing. —Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 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