Partial Meaning
Partial Definition & Usage
Not complete or whole; involving only a part of something.
Examples
- "The report offers only a partial view of the situation."
- "She gave a partial answer to the question, avoiding the sensitive details."
- "The cake was only partially baked, so it was still raw inside."
- "We received a partial refund because some of the items were out of stock."
- "The article provided a partial summary of the research findings."
Having a bias or inclination toward one side, group, or thing, often to the exclusion of others.
Examples
- "The judge was accused of having a partial view of the case."
- "His partial support for the proposal made him unpopular with the opposition."
- "She was partial to the first candidate, despite his lack of experience."
- "The media coverage was partially biased, showing a partial perspective of the conflict."
- "I feel like the teacher is partial toward certain students, giving them more opportunities."
A part or portion of something.
Examples
- "I’ve only read a partial of the document; I’ll need to go over the rest later."
- "He showed me a partial of his new book, but it’s not yet finished."
- "The company is releasing a partial of their annual report ahead of the full release."
- "She gave a partial of her speech before the technical difficulties interrupted."
- "I’ve seen a partial of the movie, but I still need to finish it."
Cultural Context
The word 'partial' comes from the Latin 'partialis', meaning 'of a part'. It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe something incomplete, biased, or fragmentary. In modern contexts, 'partial' can also refer to situations where a preference or bias is evident.
The Puzzle of Fairness
Story
The Puzzle of Fairness
On a bright Saturday morning, Sarah sat in the café, piecing together a puzzle she had bought at the local store. It was a beautiful landscape scene, but a few pieces were missing, leaving gaps in the picture. As she worked, she thought about the upcoming town hall meeting she was preparing for. She had been asked to present a report on the community's views about the new park project, but she knew her data was only partial—gathered from just one part of town. Sarah felt conflicted, knowing the report might paint an incomplete picture. Her boss, Mrs. Adams, had made it clear that she wanted to highlight the positive feedback, but Sarah was uncomfortable with the idea of presenting a partial view. As Sarah walked into the meeting, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of her own biases. She was partial to the park project, having grown up nearby, and she feared her personal inclinations would affect her presentation. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if the other attendees, like her, were also partial in their own ways, picking and choosing the facts that fit their narrative. When it came time to present, Sarah decided to include all the available data, both positive and negative. She knew that while the report was partial, it was the most honest version of the situation. Afterward, she felt a sense of relief—not just because she had presented fairly, but because she had acknowledged her own partiality by being transparent about the incomplete data.
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