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

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

Thus, judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge.

From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2023

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

They are in general as blind and as pertinacious in their partialities as in their dislikes; seldom bestowing much judgment in either, but acting according to the impulses of their warm passions and flexibility.

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)

"The sympathies and partialities of the people of Louisiana began to manifest themselves strongly in favour of the French patriots, principally in New-Orleans."

From The American Quarterly Review, No. 17, March 1831 by Walsh, Robert

Fashion is fickle, varying, inconstant; given to sudden partialities and to disruptions unlooked for, and as sudden.

From The Art of Needle-work, from the Earliest Ages, 3rd ed. Including Some Notices of the Ancient Historical Tapestries by Menzies, Sutherland, fl. 1840-1883