partisanship

noun

par·​ti·​san·​ship ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce partisanship (audio)
-sən-, 
-ˌzan-
chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-
Synonyms of partisanship
: 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.
Some fans reflected that Parton represented a different era of America, one that wasn’t defined by political divisions and partisanship. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 To prevail, Benitez-Thompson would have to defy political gravity, which is to say overcome the reflexive partisanship that has typified politics in this age of deep voter polarization. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Policymakers in Washington should look to Florida for a lesson in putting partisanship aside to protect people and lower costs. — Jaclyn De Medicci Bruneau, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 In a rare interview in his chambers, Alito also discussed the state of the court, rejecting the idea that political partisanship affects his decisions. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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