What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
partisanism
Example
The media accused the politician of partisanism for always siding with his party, regardless of the issue. [partisanism: noun]
Example
Her partisanism made it difficult for her to work with colleagues from opposing parties. [partisan: adjective]
favoritism
Example
The manager was accused of favoritism for always giving the best assignments to his friends. [favoritism: noun]
Example
Her boss showed favoritism towards her, giving her a promotion despite her lack of qualifications. [favoritism: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Favoritism is more commonly used than partisanism in everyday language. Favoritism is a widespread phenomenon that affects many areas of life, while partisanism is more specific to political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between partisanism and favoritism?
Both partisanism and favoritism are typically associated with a negative and informal tone. However, partisanism may be used in more formal contexts, such as political analysis or academic research, while favoritism is more commonly used in everyday conversation.