nonpartisan
non-PAR-tih-zun
/ˌnɒnˈpɑːrtɪzn/
Not biased or partisan, especially toward any particular political group.
Specifically used in the context of political parties and elections.
The story behind the word. From 'non-' (not) and 'partisan' (from Latin 'partis', a part). A partisan is someone who has taken a 'part' or side in a political fight.
Word relationships
- independent: Independent means not belonging to a party; nonpartisan means not favoring any party.
- partisan: Strongly supporting one party or cause.
Commonly confused with
- bipartisan: Bipartisan means two parties working together; nonpartisan means no parties are involved.
Word family
- partisan (noun/adjective): A strong supporter of a party.
Collocations
- nonpartisan organization
- nonpartisan committee
- nonpartisan support
Example sentences
- "The Congressional Budget Office is a nonpartisan agency that provides economic data to Congress." Government
- "We need nonpartisan redistricting to ensure that elections remain fair." Civics
Memory hook
Non-Part-Is-An. No 'part' is taken. No party, no problem.
When not to use
Do not use for general personal preferences (e.g., 'I am nonpartisan about pizza toppings' is incorrect; use 'indifferent').
Fun facts
- In some countries, local elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not list a political party on the ballot.
Related words
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