partiality

American  

[pahr-shee-al-i-tee, pahr-shal-] / ˌpɑr ʃiˈæl ɪ ti, pɑrˈʃæl- /

noun

• partialities
  plural

1. the state or character of being partial.

2. a favorable bias or prejudice.

   the partiality of parents for their own children.

   Synonyms:

   favoritism

3. a special fondness, preference, or liking (usually followed by to orfor ).

   a partiality for country living.

   Synonyms:

   predilection, bent, inclination, leaning

   Antonyms:

   dislike

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partiality British  

/ ˌpɑːʃɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. favourable prejudice or bias

2. (usually foll by for) liking or fondness

3. the state or condition of being partial

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpartiality
  noun
• overpartiality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• partialities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of partiality

1375–1425; late Middle English parcialite < Medieval Latin partiālitās. See partial, -ity

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Explanation

Partiality is the habit of favoring something — taking its part. If your parents always seem to let your little sister off the hook while you get grounded, you could accuse them of partiality in their parenting. They favor your sister over you. Partiality is like bias. It means that your favorite person, type of food, or way of operating tends to get priority when you’re making up your mind. A synonym for partiality is favoritism. For this reason, anyone who’s not directly benefiting from your partiality will not appreciate it. It’s unfair!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

partiality partialities

"There is no evidence of bad faith, malice, corruption, fraud, partiality, or any want of integrity on the part of Referee Mark Lyson," the commission added.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Having Cannon presiding over this case “might create an appearance of partiality in the mind of the public,” Routh’s attorney said, according to CNN.

From Slate ● Dec. 21, 2024

Despite Cannon’s partiality so far, we should not write off this prospect until we see what happens.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2024

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the First Department unanimously affirmed Cohen’s decision in October 2020, ruling the Orioles failed to establish evident partiality in the second arbitration panel.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 1, 2023

Miss Bennet’s astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Out of all the bizarre vampire partialities presented as humdrum on "What We Do In the Shadows," the Staten Island housemates' unconventional, looser approach to intimacy is distinctive if not singular.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2023

They inevitably involve "animosities, partialities, influence and interest."

From Time Magazine Archive

Marsden, A.M., noted for his Puritan partialities, in the two volumes of his History of the Early and Later Puritans.

From The Loyalists of America and Their Times, Vol. 1 of 2. From 1620-1816 by Egerton Ryerson

And we stand often abashed, and sometimes revolted, at those partialities of fate by which we profit most.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 24 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson

The same fact attaching itself to different localities and persons—probably according to the caprice or partialities of the several narrators—is, as he has found in the course of his researches, no unusual occurrence.

From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 2 by John Roby

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