# impartial

/ˌɪmˈpɑɹʃəɫ/ (US) · /ɪmpˈɑːʃəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/impartial
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

not supporting one person or group more than another. You use this to describe someone who is fair and does not take sides.

For teachers: treating all rivals or disputants equally; unbiased and neutral. Often used to describe judges, journalists, or formal processes.

## Examples

- A judge must remain impartial during a trial.
- The committee hired an impartial consultant to review the project and ensure no personal interests influenced the final decision.
- Maintaining an impartial stance is essential for investigative journalists, as even a slight perception of bias can undermine the credibility of their entire report.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an unpartial observer" but "an impartial observer" — Learners often use the prefix 'un-' because it is a common way to negate adjectives, but 'impartial' is the correct form.

## Usage notes

- Typically follows a linking verb like 'be', 'remain', or 'stay'; often takes the preposition 'towards'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.