bipartisanship

American  

[bahy-pahr-ti-zuhn-ship] / baɪˈpɑr tɪ zənˌʃɪp /

noun

1. an instance of members from traditionally opposed political parties agreeing to cooperate on an issue.

2. the quality of being supported by members of two different political parties.

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Explanation

Bipartisanship involves two political parties or factions working together to get things done. It can take a lot of skill to convince two parties that normally are rivals to work toward a common goal. The prefix bi- at the beginning of bipartisanship means that two things are involved. Drop the prefix and you have partisanship, very much the opposite in meaning. Partisanship involves supporting the views and policies of just one political party, no matter what. In contrast, bipartisanship involves compromise between political parties that often have opposing views. Bipartisanship is a relatively new word that reflects the growing importance of exploring ways to overcome strong political disagreements.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bipartisanship

Throughout his career, Graham cultivated a reputation for his focus on issues like immigration reform, national security and criminal justice, including reaching across the aisle for more bipartisanship politics in his earlier years in office.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Slaughter disrupts this design and largely eliminates its incentives for bipartisanship.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

At the Micron groundbreaking in January, Republican Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon celebrated the bipartisanship that allowed what he called a “red, white and blue” day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

The resounding vote in favour of the Epstein bill, 427-1, marks a rare moment of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025

As we look back over this century, let us, in the highest spirit of bipartisanship, recognize that we can be proud of our Nation's record in foreign affairs.

From State of the Union Address by Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous)