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
As Congress has been steadily torn apart by partisanship, it’s given up lots of its power over the past half-century and no longer seems to see itself as a coequal branch of government with the executive.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
The game, which originated in 1909, annually bills itself as an opportunity to display patriotic togetherness even in eras — like the current one — of extreme partisanship.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025
Four years ago, in the wake of the massive protests following the killing of George Floyd, and in a Senate riven by partisanship, the bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday passed unanimously.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 8 June 2025
Allegations of partisanship Although Republicans are currently the party criticizing the CBO, digs at the agency have come from both sides of the aisle.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for partisanship
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Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
The game, which originated in 1909, annually bills itself as an opportunity to display patriotic togetherness even in eras — like the current one — of extreme partisanship.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2025
Four years ago, in the wake of the massive protests following the killing of George Floyd, and in a Senate riven by partisanship, the bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday passed unanimously.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 8 June 2025
Allegations of partisanship Although Republicans are currently the party criticizing the CBO, digs at the agency have come from both sides of the aisle.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 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 19 Jun. 2025.
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