partisanship

noun

par·​ti·​san·​ship ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce partisanship (audio)
-sən-, 
-ˌzan-
chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-
Synonyms of partisanshipnext
: 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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Every administration has its own policy agenda and preferences, but this goes beyond that, subjugating science to partisanship and holding research and infrastructure money hostage throughout much of the country. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 However, the same poll found partisanship shapes peoples’ perceptions. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 After decades of economic upheaval and partisanship, there are simply no easy answers to our country’s vast array of problems. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2026 Chair Brendan Carr has described it as a procedural issue, but Commissioner Anna Gomez has accused the FCC of political partisanship. — Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for partisanship

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of partisanship was in 1798

Rhymes for partisanship

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Browse Nearby Words

partisanry
partisanship
-partism
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Cite this Entry

“Partisanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisanship. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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