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REFERENCE

partial

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈpɑɹʃəɫ// UK //pˈɑːʃəl// par·tial Slang

adj. describing something that is not complete or only covers one part of a whole. It can also mean that someone unfairly favors one side over another.

adj. incomplete or existing only in part; alternatively, biased or favoring one side in a dispute. In its sense of 'biased', it is often contrasted with 'impartial'.


SIMPLE

The company gave a partial refund for the broken item.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness provided only a partial account of the accident because she arrived after the initial collision.

COMPLEX

While the treaty represented a partial victory for the environmental group, many activists felt it failed to address the core systemic issues driving the crisis.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English partiall, parcial, from Old French parcial (“biased or particular”), from Late Latin partiālis (“of or pertaining to a part”), from Latin pars (“part”).

Usage

When meaning 'biased', it often takes the preposition 'to' or 'towards'. When meaning 'incomplete', it functions as a standard attributive or predicative adjective.

Pitfall

He is partial for chocolate.He is partial to chocolate.When expressing a liking or preference, the adjective 'partial' requires the preposition 'to'.

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