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
Areas outside of totality California will get a great view of the partial eclipse with mostly clear skies. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024 View in new tab What time does solar eclipse 2024 viewing start in Indiana What time will the partial solar eclipse 2024 start in Indianapolis? Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024 What time will the partial solar eclipse 2024 start in Indianapolis? Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024 And although California won’t experience the phenomenon of totality, the state should still enjoy a partial eclipse that will feature the moon taking a bite out of the late-morning sun. Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024 Speck points out in the video that even at 99.9% partial eclipse, there is still at least 100 times more light coming from the sun than during totality. Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024 Millions of people are predicted to be traveling to view today’s solar eclipse, which kicks off at around 12:06 p.m. CDT with a partial eclipse in Texas before going total at around 1:27 p.m. CDT. Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024 California will receive a lesser, but still remarkable show, a partial solar eclipse, where the sun will look like a giant yellow disk with a bite taken out of it Monday morning. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024 Even those outside the path of totality gathered outside to see the partial eclipse during the rare event. Allison Elyse Gualtieri, CBS News, 8 Apr. 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 17 Apr. 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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