impartial

adjective

im·​par·​tial (ˌ)im-ˈpär-shəl 

: not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally

impartiality

(ˌ)im-ˌpär-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

-ˌpär-ˈsha-

noun

impartially

(ˌ)im-ˈpär-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

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Impartial vs Partial

To be "partial to" or "partial toward" someone or something is to be somewhat biased or prejudiced, which means that a person who is partial really only sees part of the whole picture. To be impartial is the opposite. The United Nations sends impartial observers to monitor elections in troubled countries. We hope judges and juries will be impartial when they hand down verdicts. But grandparents aren't expected to be impartial when describing their new grandchild.

Synonyms

• candid
• disinterested
• dispassionate
• equal
• equitable
• evenhanded
• fair
• indifferent
• just
• nonpartisan
• objective
• square
• unbiased
• unprejudiced

Choose the Right Synonym for impartial

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side.

fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

I can't be objective about my own child

Examples of impartial in a Sentence

an impartial analysis of the case

an impartial evaluation of the job applicant's qualifications that does not consider age, gender, or race

Recent Examples on the Web

The Justice Department under Merrick Garland has often more resembled a left-wing blog than a sober, impartial enforcer of the law. —Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024

That man is the intended result: A person so removed from our shared reality that no impartial fact can sway him from his fear, rage and commitment. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024

Arbitration involves settling a dispute outside a legal system before an impartial third party. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024

These emotional viewpoints are ready to be put through an impartial filter. —USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impartial

adjective

im·​par·​tial (ˈ)im-ˈpär-shəl 

: treating all equally : not partial

an impartial judge

impartiality

(ˌ)im-ˌpär-shē-ˈal-ət-ē 

-ˌpär-ˈshal-

noun

impartially

(ˈ)im-ˈpärsh-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

impartial

adjective

im·​par·​tial im-ˈpär-shəl 

: not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally

impartiality

im-ˌpär-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

impartially adverb