Partisanship

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌpɑːtɪˈzænʃɪp/

Definitions

1. Strong allegiance to a particular political party or faction combined with prejudice against opposing groups
2. A tendency to strongly support one political group while being biased against others is a hallmark of this mentality
3. This mindset reflects deep loyalty to a specific party or group, often accompanied by a negative view of others

Etymology: "Partisanship" is simply "partisan" with the suffix "-ship" added, and the two parts have very different histories. "Partisan" came into English from French, where it was a word for a member of a faction or a supporter of a cause, and it traces back to Italian "partigiano," from "parte," meaning "part" or "side." The suffix is far older and native: it descends from a Proto-Germanic root meaning something like "shape" or "condition," passing through Old English "-scipe," which attached to nouns to name a state, quality, or office, as in "friendship" or "lordship." Joining the two produced a noun for the state of being a committed partisan. The compound is straightforward, but it is a good example of how English combines a borrowed Romance word with a Germanic suffix that has been productive for over a thousand years.

Synonyms: bias, partiality, favoritism, loyalty, allegiance

Antonyms: impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, fairness, disinterest