Impartial
/ɪmˈpɑːrʃəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Impartial means not taking sides or showing favoritism. When a person is impartial, they judge or decide something fairly, without letting personal feelings or opinions affect their choice. This word is often used to describe judges, referees, or anyone who must be fair.
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See It in Action
Fair and unbiased in judgment or decision
- •The judge must remain impartial during the trial.
- •An impartial referee ensures the game is played fairly.
- •It is important to have an impartial opinion when solving conflicts.
Treating all sides equally without favoritism
- •The teacher gave an impartial grade to all students.
- •A good news reporter should be impartial and report facts only.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "impartial" like "fair" (A1 word), but more formal and serious, especially in important decisions
- ✓Picture a referee in a sports game who watches carefully and does not favor any team
- ✓It's the feeling of trust when you know someone is honest and does not take sides in an argument
- ✓Sounds like "I'm partial" but actually means "not partial" → imagine someone saying "I am NOT partial" to remind you it means fair and equal
- ✓Think of a judge in court who listens to both sides before making a decision
- ✓NOT like "partial" (which means to like one side more), "impartial" means no side is liked more
- ✓NOT like "biased" (which means unfair and favoring one side), "impartial" is the opposite
- ✓NOT like "neutral" (which means not involved), "impartial" means actively fair and just, not just staying out
Try Other Words
- •Unbiased: not influenced by personal feelings (Use when emphasizing the absence of personal opinion)
- •Neutral: not taking any side (Use when someone stays out of a conflict rather than judging fairly)
- •Fair: treating people equally and justly (Use in everyday situations)
- •Objective: based on facts, not feelings (Use when focusing on facts and evidence)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "im-" (not) + root "partial" (favoring one side)
- •Etymology: From Latin "im-" (not) + "partialis" (partial, biased)
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to mean "not partial" or "fair"
- •Modern usage: Common in law, journalism, and any situation requiring fairness and no bias
Reflect & Connect
•How can you tell if someone is truly impartial in a difficult situation?
•Why is being impartial important in jobs like judges, teachers, or reporters?
Fill in the blanks
1.A judge must be impartial to ___ a fair trial for everyone involved.
2.When a referee is impartial, players feel the game is ___ and honest.
3.Being impartial means not showing ___ to any side or person.
4.Reporters should stay impartial and avoid ___ opinions in their news stories.
5.Unlike being neutral, being impartial means you actively ___ all sides equally.
6.If a teacher is not impartial, students may feel the grading is ___.
7.People trust decisions more when they know the person making them is ___ and fair.