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

Any suggestion of a cohesive, equitable tax policy in Florida has been shredded by petty partisanship, deceitful tactics and fake populism. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

Beyond the artificial perimeter of the Studio Zone, the country itself has been no less turbulent — fractured by partisanship, fighting over immigration and staring down the prospect of another endless war in the Middle East. —Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

From start to finish, ugly hyper-partisanship was on full display. —Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026

The polls served as a point of reference for journalists and tracked data on partisanship and other rapid public opinion moves during a president's term, USA TODAY reported. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 16 Feb. 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