partial

1 of 2

adjective

par·​tial ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce partial (audio)
1
: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
a partial solution
a partial payment
2
: inclined to favor one party more than the other : biased
it is inconsistent with justice to be partialJ. S. Mill
3
: markedly fond of someone or something
used with to
partial to pizza
She's partial to tall men with blond hair.

partial

2 of 2

noun

Examples of partial in a Sentence

Adjective These plants prefer full sun or partial shade. The partial ban on immigration has been lifted. His latest play was deemed only a partial success by the critics. a partial eclipse of the sun He wears a partial denture. She suggested a partial solution to the problem. A referee must not be partial toward either team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Dubois Naval Architects positioned the keel box to come above the main deck, serving as a partial separation between the bridge and the main salon. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 Lima residents may see it at 3:10 p.m. and people in Akron and Cleveland may see it at 3:15 p.m. Cincinnati will experience a partial eclipse around 3:09 p.m., according to National Eclipse. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024 Image Even with the partial success of Thursday’s flight, Starship is far from ready to go to Mars, or even the moon. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Once the Sun begins peeking out, observers should put their eclipse glasses back on to watch the remaining partial phase of the eclipse. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 Tax relief companies have limitations and can only provide partial assistance in reducing your tax burden. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Most ferns do well in partial or full shade in rich, well-draining soil. Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 This leads to a period of partial or full darkness on a narrow stretch of Earth. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 The three liberal Justices reportedly square-pegged a partial dissent into a bitter, for-the-good-of-the-country concurrence with the six conservatives, to reverse the lower court. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials. David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023 Featuring three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one partial, the home was recently listed by Cynthia Bigelow of Sotheby's International Realty. Shacamree Gowdy, Chron, 21 May 2021 The 24th pick of the second round (Shane Vereen) got one full guarantee and one partial. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022 The free services provided by dentists from South Florida including cleanings, fillings, extractions, pediatric dentistry, root canals, and a limited number of dentures and partials. Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023 After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included the restoration of the frescoes and the floor and colonnades. Francesco Sportelli, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023 After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included restoration of the frescoes and of the floor and colonnades. Francesco Sportelli, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2023 Predictions range from a partial to a full collapse. Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2022 Now the administration wants to allow more types of payments to qualify for the forgiveness program, including lump-sum, partial, and late payments. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'partial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English parcial, from Late Latin partialis, from Latin part-, pars part

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of partial was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near partial

Cite this Entry

“Partial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

partial

adjective
par·​tial
ˈpär-shəl
1
: inclined to favor one side over another : biased
2
: fond of someone or something
partial to pizza
3
: relating to or being a part rather than the whole : not total or complete
a partial eclipse
a partial rhyme
partially
ˈpärsh-(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on partial

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