partial
PAH-shuhl
Partial (adj) means not complete; only affecting or including part of something. Example: “The road is only in partial use while workers repair one lane.”
adj
1
Not complete; only affecting or including part of something.
"The road is only in partial use while workers repair one lane."
"The report gives only a partial picture of what happened."
"He suffered a partial recovery after the surgery."
2
Favouring one side unfairly; biased.
"A judge must never be partial, whoever is standing in front of the court."
"I think the report is partial, because it only mentions the views of one group."
"The referee was accused of being partial toward the home team."
3
Having a strong liking for something.
"My grandfather is rather partial to a slice of cake after lunch."
"Are you partial to spicy food, or do you prefer something milder?"
"She's always been partial to a good cup of tea."
How to use partial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIncomplete, or (differently) unfairly favouring one side, or (in the phrase "partial to") especially fond of something.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "partial" (biased, or incomplete) with "impartial," which means the opposite — fair and unbiased.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
partial to
partial credit
partial success
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Word forms
- Plural
- partials
- Third person singular
- partials
- Past tense
- participle (US) partialed, partialled
- Comparative
- more partial
- Superlative
- most partial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The road is only in _____ use while workers repair one lane.
Etymology
From Late Latin partialis, "of a part," from Latin pars, "part."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for partial
See all rhymes for partial →Frequently asked questions
What does “partial” mean?
The word “partial” means not complete; only affecting or including part of something. In plain terms, incomplete, or (differently) unfairly favouring one side, or (in the phrase "partial to") especially fond of something.
How do you pronounce “partial”?
“Partial” is pronounced PAH-shuhl (/ˈpɑɹʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “partial” in a sentence?
Here is “partial” used in a sentence: “The report gives only a partial picture of what happened.”
What part of speech is “partial”?
“Partial” is an adjective.
Where does the word “partial” come from?
The word “partial” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin partialis, "of a part," from Latin pars, "part.".
Is “partial” a common word?
“Partial” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “partial” have?
“Partial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not complete; only affecting or including part of something.
What is the difference between partial and complete?
Partial means not complete, affecting or including only part of something, such as a partial refund. Complete means whole with nothing missing, so the two are opposites in this sense.
What is the difference between partial and impartial?
In its bias sense, partial means favouring one side unfairly. Impartial is its opposite, meaning fair and not favouring any side, as an impartial judge should be.
When should you use partial instead of biased?
Use partial when describing an unfair preference for one side, often in a formal or judgemental context such as a partial referee. Biased is more general and more common in everyday speech for any leaning or prejudice.
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