partial

partial — adjective

1. including only some of something, not the full thing, amount, or period.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

including only some of something, not the full thing, amount, or period.

Example

Marcus got a partial refund after the cancelled boat tour.

collocation: partial refund

The bank accepted a partial payment from the family.

collocation: partial payment

Common collocations
  • partial refund
  • partial payment
  • partial view
  • partial damage
  • partial list
Synonyms
  • incomplete

    the broadest choice for something not finished or not whole

  • limited

    stresses that the amount or range is small rather than full

  • unfinished

    best when work has started but has not been completed

  • fragmentary

    more formal and often used for information or records in broken pieces

Antonyms
  • complete

    having every part or the full amount

  • full

    having the whole amount, range, or effect

  • total

    covering everything with nothing left out

Grammar Patterns

partial refund

partial payment

partial view

partial damage

Usage Note

Common before nouns for amounts, views, results, or periods that cover only part of a larger whole. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about incompleteness, not unfair preference.

Common Mistakes

We got a partly refund.
We got a partial refund.
'partial' is the adjective before a noun; 'partly' is an adverb.
The damage was partial complete.
The damage was partial.' / 'The repair was not complete.
'partial' already contrasts with 'complete' and does not combine with it this way.

2. supporting one person, side, or idea too much because you already prefer it, ins

2.adjective
Definition

supporting one person, side, or idea too much because you already prefer it, instead of judging evenly.

Example

Several players said the referee was partial to the home team.

be partial to + side when judging unfairly

The report looked partial because it quoted only one witness.

partial report giving only one side

Common collocations
  • partial to the home team
  • partial toward his nephew
  • partial report
  • partial account
Synonyms
  • biased

    the most direct modern synonym for unfair preference

  • one-sided

    often used for reports or arguments that show only one view

  • prejudiced

    stronger and often linked to fixed unfair opinions about people or groups

  • unfair

    broader; can describe any lack of fairness, not only favoritism

Antonyms
  • impartial

    fair and not favoring either side

  • neutral

    not supporting either side

  • objective

    based on facts rather than personal preference

Grammar Patterns

be partial to + person/group

a partial report

a partial account

Usage Note

Often used about judges, referees, teachers, reports, or articles. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense suggests unfair favoritism, while sense 3 only means liking something.

Common Mistakes

The referee was partial, so both teams trusted him.
The referee was impartial, so both teams trusted him.
'partial' here means unfairly favoring one side; 'impartial' means fair.
Mina is partial to mango cake, so she is partial.
Mina is partial to mango cake.
by itself, 'partial' usually means biased, not simply that someone likes a food.

3. especially fond of a particular thing, so you enjoy or choose it more than other

3.adjective
Definition

especially fond of a particular thing, so you enjoy or choose it more than others.

Example

Grandma is partial to mango ice on hot evenings.

be partial to + food

Yusuf has always been partial to old train films.

be partial to + thing you enjoy

Common collocations
  • partial to mango ice
  • partial to old films
  • partial to small hotels
  • partial to night markets
Synonyms
  • fond

    the closest everyday synonym, especially in 'fond of'

  • keen on

    informal and often used for hobbies or activities

  • devoted to

    stronger and often suggests loyalty or long-term commitment

  • attached to

    can suggest emotional closeness as well as simple liking

Antonyms
  • indifferent to

    showing little interest or preference

  • dislike

    feeling that something is unpleasant rather than enjoyable

Grammar Patterns

be partial to + noun

be partial to + activity

Usage Note

Normally follows a linking verb and almost always takes 'to' before the thing liked. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense expresses taste or preference, not unfair judgment.

Common Mistakes

Ella partials to quiet cafes.
Ella is partial to quiet cafes.
this adjective usually appears after a linking verb such as 'be'.
My father is partial with jazz.
My father is partial to jazz.
this sense normally takes the preposition 'to'.

partial — noun

Word family

  • part
    nounA1
  • partly
    adverbB1
  • impartial
    adjectiveC1
  • partiality
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For sense 1, 'partial' is useful when only part of something is present, available, or done. It often goes before nouns like refund, payment, view, or damage. 'Incomplete' is the broad everyday choice for anything not whole or not fully finished. 'Unfinished' is narrower and usually suggests work that has started but has not ended. 'Limited' stresses a small amount, range, or effect, not simply missing parts. 'Fragmentary' is more formal and often describes broken information, records, or evidence. Compare these: a shop may offer a partial refund, builders may leave an unfinished wall, a map may give limited details, and historians may have only fragmentary letters from the period.

partial ↗incomplete ↗unfinished ↗limited ↗fragmentary

Etymology

LatinLate LatinFrenchEnglish

Partial came into English through French from late Latin 'partialis', built on Latin 'pars', meaning 'part'. Its earliest meaning was connected with being only one part of a whole. From that base, English also developed the idea of favoring one side, and later the sense of having a special liking for something.