partisanship
UK: ˈpɑːtɪzənʃɪp | US: ˈpɑːrtɪzənʃɪp
n. Strong, sometimes biased, support for a particular party, group, or cause.
n. The tendency to prioritize party loyalty over impartial judgment.
The word "partisanship" combines "partisan," derived from the Italian partigiano (meaning "supporter of a faction"), and the suffix "-ship," which denotes a state or condition. "Partisan" itself traces back to Latin partire (to divide), reflecting allegiance to a divided group. Over time, "-ship" (from Old English -scipe) evolved to abstract nouns indicating qualities or roles (e.g., "friendship" → "friendship"). Together, they form a term describing the condition of unwavering factional loyalty.
Political partisanship often hinders bipartisan cooperation.
Her partisanship blinded her to the merits of opposing viewpoints.
The media’s partisanship has eroded public trust in balanced reporting.
Rising partisanship in Congress has stalled critical legislation.
Critics argue that judicial partisanship undermines the fairness of legal rulings.