adj

partial

PAH-shuhl

adj

Not complete; only affecting or including part of something.

"The report gives only a partial picture of what happened."

"He suffered a partial recovery after the surgery."

Favouring one side unfairly; biased.

"The referee was accused of being partial toward the home team."

Having a strong liking for something.

"She's always been partial to a good cup of tea."

How to Use Partial

Learner’s notes

In 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

impartial →

Common pairings

partial to partial credit partial success

more partial comparative, participle (US) partialed past tense, partialled past tense, partials plural, partials singular, most partial superlative

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The report gives only a _____ picture of what happened.

From Late Latin partialis, "of a part," from Latin pars, "part."

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