Bipartisans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A political approach that involves collaboration between members of two different parties or groups
2. a method of governance that seeks agreement and cooperation across party lines
3. an initiative or legislation that receives support from multiple political factions for greater inclusivity and effectiveness

Etymology: "Partisan" once named a soldier, not a political supporter. It came into English from French and Italian, where "partigiano" meant a member of an irregular fighting band, drawn from "parte," "part" or "side." The same word also named a long-handled pike carried by foot soldiers, so a partisan was originally someone who fought for one side in a conflict. "Bipartisan" joins "bi-," meaning "two," to that older "partisan." A bipartisan measure has the support of both of the two main parties, and "bipartisans" is the plural noun for the people who back such a position across that divide. The term is generally traced to American political usage, where two-party politics made the idea of a shared stance a regular point of discussion.

Synonyms: cross-party, coalition, joint, collaborative, united

Antonyms: partisan, divisive, factional, sectarian, exclusive