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.
Coalition governments are not uncommon in the state, where politicians are fond of saying that pragmatism trumps partisanship. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Most networks and major news organizations have social media policies that frown on overt partisanship. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 Doubtless, when the midterm elections are over and the next Congress convenes in January, fierce partisanship and angry polarization will continue unabated in the United States. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 These are the reasons for antagonism to Mayor Levy, not hyper-partisanship. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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