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

Etymology

Origin of partiality

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

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

For that reason, they are expected to avoid public statements displaying partiality because such statements undermine public trust in the legal system.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2025

She expressed concerns about how the media attention surrounding the case will affect the partiality of the jurors.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 29, 2024

Ms. Soderstrom faced removal from the bench for gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office and other judicial conduct prohibited by the state’s Constitution.

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2024

Now I needed to understand how the great gatekeepers of history had come to terms with their own ignorance and partiality.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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

As the love for Clotilde deepens, he must destroy these partialities for Agnola and Joachime.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 96, October 1865 by Various

Considering natural partialities, he has shown a discretion of which we are oftener reminded by missing than by meeting it.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 121, November, 1867 by Various

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