partisanship
noun
par·ti·san·ship
ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship 
-sən-,
-ˌzan-,
chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-
: 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
Anthony LewisThe 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
Jon GrinspanExamples 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
In a time of deep partisanship, back-stabbing, dysfunction, and slim margins in Congress, Republican women have turned to each other for support both personally and legislatively.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2025
The establishment of the commission was a wise move designed to take partisanship out of the drawing of boundaries for governmental bodies within the state.
—Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Republicans argue Democrats are injecting partisanship into the process by tying government funding to ACA health care subsidies.
—Leonardo Feldman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Local government should be close to the community—listening to residents, using data responsibly, and avoiding partisanship or special interest influence in areas like school governance.
—Pioneer Press Elections Team, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for partisanship
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Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2025
The establishment of the commission was a wise move designed to take partisanship out of the drawing of boundaries for governmental bodies within the state.
—Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Republicans argue Democrats are injecting partisanship into the process by tying government funding to ACA health care subsidies.
—Leonardo Feldman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Local government should be close to the community—listening to residents, using data responsibly, and avoiding partisanship or special interest influence in areas like school governance.
—Pioneer Press Elections Team, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for partisanship
Cite this Entry
“Partisanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisanship. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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