partisanship
PAR-tih-zun-ship
/ˌpɑːrtɪˈzænʃɪp/
Prejudice in favor of a particular cause; bias; fervent support for a party or faction.
It often implies that loyalty to the 'party' or 'group' has overridden objective reasoning or the common good.
The story behind the word. A 'partisan' was originally someone who took a 'part' or side in a battle. By the 16th century, it referred to a die-hard supporter of a person or party. It suggests that the person is only seeing a 'part' of the truth, rather than the whole.
Word relationships
- factionalism: Factionalism refers to the splitting of a group into smaller, often contentious parties; partisanship is the loyalty to one of those parties.
- bipartisanship: Agreement or cooperation between two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.
- neutrality: The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict.
Commonly confused with
- loyalty: Loyalty is generally positive; partisanship implies that loyalty has become blind or obstructive.
Word family
- partisan (noun/adjective): A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person; prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.
Collocations
- bipartisanship
- fierce partisanship
- political partisanship
- blind partisanship
Example sentences
- "The bill failed to pass not because of its content, but because of extreme partisanship in the Senate." Political Analysis
- "Partisanship is the death of reason." Historical Quote
Memory hook
A partisan only sees the 'part' of the story that helps their 'party'. The 'party-ship' sailing away from the truth.
When not to use
Don't use it for simple membership in a group; it implies a biased, uncritical devotion.
Fun facts
- In WWII, 'partisans' were resistance fighters who operated behind enemy lines, showing that the word isn't always negative.
Related words
Explore more words
partisan, nonpartisan, impartiality, impartial, sectarian, unbiased
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