Partial: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something is not whole or not entirely finished, often implying that it is a part of a larger whole.

• The report is only partial and requires further data for completion.
• She gave me a partial explanation of the situation.

Describes something that is not finished or not full, often used in academic or technical contexts.

• Her homework was incomplete, and she needed to finish it before class.
• The application is incomplete and missing several key documents.

Denotes something that has been started but not completed, often used for projects, tasks, or creative works.

• The sculpture was left unfinished due to the artist's untimely death.
• I have many unfinished tasks waiting for me on my desk.

Implies that something is in pieces or fragments, often suggesting that it is incomplete and possibly hard to understand.

• The historical records are fragmentary and do not provide a clear picture.
• His knowledge of the incident was fragmentary and based on rumors.

Used to describe a situation where something or someone is incomplete or a person has a preference for one side but not necessarily in an unfair way.

• He gave a partial answer to the question
• She is partial to Italian food

Best for situations where someone unfairly supports one side over another, often due to personal preferences or prejudices.

• The movie review was biased because the critic is friends with the director

Used when someone has an unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when it is related to race, religion, or gender. This term often has a strong negative connotation.

• Her decision was prejudiced against young applicants

Describes a scenario or argument that only considers or presents one perspective, often leading to unfairness.

• The debate was one-sided because only one group was allowed to speak

Use 'partial' when talking about something that is not complete or only a part of a whole. It often implies that the part lacks something to be whole.

• We only have partial information about the incident.
• The project is still in its partial stages.

Use 'fraction' when discussing a small part or proportion of something, often in mathematical or quantitative contexts.

• Only a fraction of the population has access to clean water.
• He paid only a fraction of the total cost.

Use 'portion' when describing a share or part of something that can be divided, often related to food or allocation of resources.

• She gave me a portion of her dessert.
• Each student received a portion of the grant.

Use 'segment' when referring to a distinct part of something that is divided into sections, often used in business, anatomy, and broadcasting contexts.

• The market segment for luxury cars is growing.
• This TV show has a segment on cooking.