partial

1 of 2

adjective

par·​tial ˈpär-shəl 

1

: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total

a partial solution

a partial payment

2

: inclined to favor one party more than the other : biased

it is inconsistent with justice to be partial

—J. S. Mill

3

: markedly fond of someone or something

—used with to

partial to pizza

She's partial to tall men with blond hair.

partial

2 of 2

noun

: overtone sense 1a

Synonyms

Adjective

• biased
• one-sided
• parti pris
• partisan
• prejudiced

Examples of partial in a Sentence

Adjective

These plants prefer full sun or partial shade.

The partial ban on immigration has been lifted.

His latest play was deemed only a partial success by the critics.

a partial eclipse of the sun

He wears a partial denture.

She suggested a partial solution to the problem.

A referee must not be partial toward either team.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Musk and President-elect Donald Trump led the conservative rebellion against the initial plan to avert a partial shutdown, a bipartisan deal that came from negotiations between the top two Democrats and Republicans in both congressional chambers. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024

The partial shutdown could cause nationwide disruption to federal agencies and employees. —The Arizona Republic, 22 Dec. 2024

Noun

The next two solar eclipses are partials on March 29, 2025 (Europe, northern Asia, north and west Africa, North America, northern South America, the Atlantic and Arctic) and Sept. 21, 2025 (southern Australia, the Pacific, the Atlantic and Antarctica). —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials. —David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English parcial, from Late Latin partialis, from Latin part-, pars part

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing partial

• partial-birth abortion
• partial denture
• partial derivative
• partial differential equation
• partial differentiation
• partial fraction
• partial pressure
• partial product
• partial to

Kids Definition

partial

adjective

par·​tial

ˈpär-shəl

1

: inclined to favor one side over another : biased

2

: fond of someone or something

partial to pizza

3

: relating to or being a part rather than the whole : not total or complete

a partial eclipse

a partial rhyme

partially

ˈpärsh-(ə-)lē

adverb