impartial

adjective

im·​par·​tial (ˌ)im-ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce impartial (audio)
: not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally
impartiality noun
impartially adverb

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Impartial vs Partial

To be "partial to" or "partial toward" someone or something is to be somewhat biased or prejudiced, which means that a person who is partial really only sees part of the whole picture. To be impartial is the opposite. The United Nations sends impartial observers to monitor elections in troubled countries. We hope judges and juries will be impartial when they hand down verdicts. But grandparents aren't expected to be impartial when describing their new grandchild.

Choose the Right Synonym for impartial

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side.

fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

I can't be objective about my own child

Examples of impartial in a Sentence

an impartial analysis of the case an impartial evaluation of the job applicant's qualifications that does not consider age, gender, or race
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Attorneys who completed a survey about her work called her fair and impartial. John Frank, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024 Routh's attorneys argued in their motion that Cannon could not be impartial in the case because she was appointed by Trump. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 Impartiality One of the biggest challenges in selecting a trustee is finding someone who can remain impartial to the needs of all beneficiaries. Alvina Lo, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 The Justice Department under Merrick Garland has often more resembled a left-wing blog than a sober, impartial enforcer of the law. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impartial 

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impartial was in 1587

Dictionary Entries Near impartial

Cite this Entry

“Impartial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impartial. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

impartial

adjective
im·​par·​tial (ˈ)im-ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce impartial (audio)
: treating all equally : not partial
an impartial judge
impartiality noun
impartially adverb

Legal Definition

impartial

adjective
im·​par·​tial im-ˈpär-shəl How to pronounce impartial (audio)
: not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally
impartiality noun
impartially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on impartial

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