Partisan
/ˈpɑːrtɪzən/
nounadjectiveB2
Definition
As a noun, a partisan is someone who strongly supports a specific political party, group, or cause, sometimes ignoring other views. As an adjective, partisan describes actions, feelings, or decisions that show strong, often one-sided, support for a group or idea.
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See It in Action
A strong supporter of a political party or cause (noun)
- •He is a partisan of the Green Party and always votes for their candidates.
- •The partisans organized a meeting to discuss their plans.
- •During the election, partisans often argue fiercely for their side.
Showing strong, sometimes unfair, support for one group (adjective)
- •The newspaper article was very partisan and did not show both sides of the story.
- •Her partisan views made it hard for her to listen to other opinions.
- •The debate became partisan, with little chance for agreement.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "partisan" like "fan" (A1 word), but more serious and less open to other ideas—like a fan who only sees their team as right, no matter what
- ✓Picture two groups in a game, each with people who cheer loudly only for their own side and don’t listen to the other side’s reasons
- ✓It’s the feeling when you want your favorite team to win so much that you ignore any mistakes they make
- ✓Sounds like "PART-ee-zan" → imagine someone at a party who only talks about one topic and won’t change their mind
- ✓Think of political debates where people only support their party’s ideas and do not try to understand the other party
- ✓NOT like "neutral" (no side), partisan means you are clearly on one side
- ✓NOT like "open-minded" (ready to listen to all sides), partisan means strong loyalty to one side
- ✓NOT like "fair" (treating all sides equally), partisan often means unfair or biased support
Try Other Words
- •Biased: showing unfair support for one side (Use when emphasizing unfairness)
- •Loyalist: a very loyal supporter of a group (Use when emphasizing loyalty without fairness)
- •Fan: someone who likes or supports something (Use in casual, less serious contexts)
- •Follower: someone who follows a leader or idea (Use when the support is less strong or more passive)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "part-" (from Latin for "part" or "side") + suffix "-isan" (person who does or belongs to)
- •Etymology: From Latin "partisanus," meaning a member of a party or faction
- •Historical development: Originally used for fighters who supported a side in wars; later used for political and social groups
- •Modern usage: Used to describe strong supporters in politics, sports, or any group with strong loyalty; also describes biased or one-sided attitudes
Reflect & Connect
•How can being partisan help or hurt a group or community?
•Can someone be partisan and still be fair? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.A partisan often refuses to ___ opinions that disagree with their own beliefs.
2.When a news report is partisan, it usually ___ only one side of a story.
3.Partisan supporters often feel very ___ about their group or cause.
4.Unlike a neutral person, a partisan takes ___ in a disagreement or debate.
5.People who are partisan may find it hard to ___ with others who have different views.
6.In politics, partisan actions can sometimes lead to ___ between groups.
7.She became partisan after ___ strongly to one political party for many years.