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Partial Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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partial

[ˈpɑːrʃəl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

incomplete

Existing only in part, incomplete.

Synonyms

fragmentary, incomplete, unfinished.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
partial

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.
incomplete

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.
unfinished

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.
fragmentary

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.

Examples of usage

  • The painting was only partial, with the artist leaving the background unfinished.
  • Due to the partial information provided, it was difficult to make a decision.
Context #2 | Adjective

biased

Favoring one side or party more than others; prejudiced.

Synonyms

biased, one-sided, prejudiced.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
partial

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
biased

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
prejudiced

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
one-sided

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

Examples of usage

  • The news report was partial towards the government's perspective.
  • Her partial views made it hard for her to see the situation objectively.
Context #3 | Noun

fraction

A part that only represents a portion of the whole; a fraction.

Synonyms

fraction, portion, segment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
partial

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.
fraction

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.
portion

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.
segment

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.

Examples of usage

  • He only paid a partial of the total amount owed.
  • The team managed to win by a partial of a point.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'partial'

The word 'partial' originated from the Latin word 'partialis', which means 'pertaining to a part'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. Over time, 'partial' has evolved to encompass meanings of incompleteness, bias, and representing only a part of the whole.

See also: apart, counterpart, impart, multipart, part, partable, partially, participate, particle, particular, parting, partisan, partition, partitive, partly, partner, partook, parts, partway, party.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,360, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.