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
The alienation that message creates—particularly in combination with extreme partisanship—has the potential to reshape the way Americans interact with their neighbors, schools, employers, churches, and democratic institutions.
—Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
At the heart of his coalition-building is a belief that virulent partisanship is a messaging issue more than a political one.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Kousser, the politics professor, noted that this is not the first time that concerns about partisanship within the Justice Department have been voiced.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Avoiding partisanship – but not laughter But despite her passion for work, Keane found time to enjoy the Capitol’s lighter moments.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisanship
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Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
At the heart of his coalition-building is a belief that virulent partisanship is a messaging issue more than a political one.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Kousser, the politics professor, noted that this is not the first time that concerns about partisanship within the Justice Department have been voiced.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Avoiding partisanship – but not laughter But despite her passion for work, Keane found time to enjoy the Capitol’s lighter moments.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisanship
Cite this Entry
“Partisanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisanship. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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