partisanship

noun

par·​ti·​san·​ship ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship How to pronounce partisanship (audio)
-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
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

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.
That level of partisanship in a military setting – on the campus of the nation’s first military academy, and before an audience of cadets and their families, many of whom are veterans – is unusual in the United States. Jeff Inglis, The Conversation, 27 May 2025 There are ways to get involved and passionately advocate for your mission without embracing the rancor and extreme partisanship many leaders rightly try to avoid. Jerry Haag, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Since Trump is not a Red-baiter, Clooney must adjust his hoary defense of the Democratic Party to fit the left’s new partisanship. Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025 For some, though, the approach has sparked concerns over partisanship bleeding into nonpartisan matters. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Partisanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisanship. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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