Definition

Noun: 1. Strong and sometimes unfair support for a particular person, group, or cause, especially without considering other possibilities: A biased, emotional allegiance that prevents impartial judgment. 2. The state of being a partisan; excessive adherence to a party, faction, or cause: Characterized by a tendency to favor one side in a dispute or competition over another, often leading to polarized views.

Usage and Examples

• The intense partisanship in the legislature made it impossible to pass bipartisan legislation.
• The journalist was criticized for letting her political partisanship influence her supposedly neutral reporting.
• Healthy debate is good, but blind partisanship can be damaging to a democracy.
• He tried to set aside his personal partisanship and judge the proposal on its merits.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Blind partisanship": Refers to an uncritical, automatic support for a group or ideology, ignoring facts or reason.
• "Tribal partisanship": Compares political or social loyalty to the fierce, identity-based loyalty found in tribes, emphasizing an "us vs. them" mentality.
• "Hyper-partisanship": Describes an extreme level of partisan division where cooperation or compromise is seen as betrayal.

Variants and Related Words

• Partisan (noun): A strong, sometimes uncritical, supporter of a party, cause, or person.
  • Example: He was a fierce partisan of the environmental movement.
• Partisan (adjective): Prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.
  • Example: The newspaper gave a highly partisan account of the event.
• Bipartisanship (noun): Agreement or cooperation between two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies. (This is often presented as the opposite of divisive partisanship).
• Nonpartisan (adjective): Not biased or partisan, especially toward any particular political group.

Synonyms

• Bias: Inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group.
• Partiality: Unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared to another.
• Factionalism: Concerned with or derived from faction, especially self-interested partisan conflict.
• Sectarianism: Excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion or politics.

Antonyms

• Impartiality: Equal treatment of all rivals or disputants; fairness.
• Neutrality: The state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict.
• Objectivity: The quality of being based on facts and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
• Even-handedness: Fair and impartial treatment.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To put partisanship aside": To consciously stop acting in a biased, party-first manner in order to achieve a common goal.
  • Example: For the good of the country, leaders must sometimes put partisanship aside.
• "Partisan politics": Political activities, decisions, or rhetoric that are strongly influenced by loyalty to a party rather than by objective consideration of issues.
  • Example: The reform was stalled by years of bitter partisan politics.

Noun

1. an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives