adjective
bipartisan
by-PAR-tih-zuhn
Bipartisan (adjective) means Supported by or made up of members of two political parties, especially ones that normally oppose each other. Example: “The bill passed with rare bipartisan support.”
adjective
1
Supported by or made up of members of two political parties, especially ones that normally oppose each other.
"The bill passed with rare bipartisan support."
"A bipartisan committee will examine the failings."
2
Marked by cooperation and compromise between opposing sides.
"She built a reputation for a bipartisan style that irritated her own party."
How to use bipartisan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBacked by both of the main political parties, not just one.
When to use it
Neutral, and especially frequent in American political reporting.
Memory tip
In British and other multi-party contexts, writers more often say cross-party.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bipartisan support
bipartisan agreement
bipartisan bill
bipartisan commission
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The bill passed with rare _____ support.
Etymology
Formed from bi- meaning two and partisan, a supporter of a party or cause.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
partisan
one-sided
Related words
Rhymes for bipartisan
See all rhymes for bipartisan →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between bipartisan and nonpartisan?
Bipartisan means two opposing parties have both backed something, so party politics is present but shared. Nonpartisan means no party allegiance is involved at all, as with an independent election commission. A bipartisan panel has members from both sides; a nonpartisan one is meant to have no side.
Can something be bipartisan if only a few members of the other party support it?
Technically yes, and politicians often claim bipartisan status on the strength of one or two votes from across the aisle. Critics call this token bipartisanship, since the word implies genuine support from both parties rather than a handful of defectors.
What is the meaning of bipartisan?
"bipartisan" (adjective) means supported by or made up of members of two political parties, especially ones that normally oppose each other.
What is another word for bipartisan?
Other words for "bipartisan" include cross-party, two-party, cooperative, bipartizan.
