partisan
PAR-tuh-zun
/ˈpɑːtɪzæn/
Strongly supporting a specific political party, faction, or cause, often blindly or unthinkingly.
Implies biased devotion to one side, frequently leading to unwillingness to compromise with rivals.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin word for 'part', partisan entered English via Italian renaissance warfare, describing a devoted soldier in a military faction. It later expanded to describe anyone fiercely committed to one political party over the whole nation.
Word relationships
- zealot: A zealot is fanatical about a cause, whereas a partisan is specifically devoted to a political party or faction.
- factional: Factional describes divisions within a group, while partisan emphasizes allegiance to one group against others.
- impartial: Impartial means completely unbiased and treating all sides equally.
- bipartisan: Bipartisan involves the agreement or cooperation of two distinct political parties.
Commonly confused with
- bipartisan: Partisan means favoring one party; bipartisan means supported by two opposing parties.
Word family
- partisanship (noun): Prejudice or bias in favor of a particular cause.
- nonpartisan (adjective): Free from party affiliation or bias.
Collocations
- fierce partisan
- partisan politics
- partisan bias
- bipartisan agreement
Idioms & expressions
- partisan lines
- partisan gridlock
Example sentences
- "The fierce partisan bickering stalled the essential infrastructure bill for several months." Legislative News
- "During the war, armed partisans operated behind enemy lines to sabotage supply networks." Historical Resistance
Memory hook
A partisan takes a PART and stands by it, refusing to look at the whole picture. Taking only ONE part of the story.
When not to use
Do not use to describe objective observers, neutral judges, or bipartisan agreements.
Fun facts
- A 'partisan' was also the name of an 8-foot-long polearm weapon carried by medieval infantry officers.
Explore more words
partisanship, sectarian, bigotry, unbiased, nonpartisan, impartial
Also appears in
- Political Science & Governance → Democratic Theory & Representation
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Editorial & Opinion Writing
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Media Bias & Objective Reporting
- Military Science & Warfare → Guerrilla Warfare & Insurgency
- Military Science & Warfare → Paramilitary & Militia Groups
- Political Science & Governance → Elections & Voting Systems
- Political Science & Governance → Pressure Groups & Lobbying
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