partial: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal & General
Quick answer
What does “partial” mean?
not whole or complete.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
not whole or complete; relating to only a part; showing favouritism.
Also, a component in a complex sound in music/acoustics; a derivative in mathematics; having a liking for something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meanings. The noun sense 'partial derivative' is equally common in technical contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/constitutional connotation in the 'biased' sense in UK English (e.g., 'justice must not be partial'). In US, 'partial to' (having a liking for) is very common in everyday speech.
Frequency
The phrase 'partial to' (liking) is slightly more frequent in casual American English.
Grammar
How to Use “partial” in a Sentence
be partial to + NP (liking)partial + N (incomplete)partial + towards/in favour of + NP (biased)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “partial” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The judge was accused of being partial towards the defence.
- We could only obtain a partial transcript of the meeting.
- I must admit I'm quite partial to a good Yorkshire pudding.
American English
- The report gives a partial account of the events.
- She's partial to classic rock music.
- A partial shutdown of the government was avoided.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for provisional results, staged payments, or incomplete data: 'We have only a partial picture of Q3 sales.'
Academic
Common in mathematics ('partial derivative'), logic ('partial truth'), and science ('partial pressure').
Everyday
Describing incomplete things or personal preferences: 'I'm rather partial to chocolate cake.'
Technical
In music (overtone), engineering (load), law (biased judgement), computing (template).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “partial”
- Using 'partial' as an adverb ('He did it partial' instead of 'partially'). Confusing 'partial to' (like) with 'part of'. Overusing the 'biased' sense in neutral contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in specialised contexts. In music, a 'partial' is a component frequency of a complex tone (an overtone). In mathematics, a 'partial' is short for a partial derivative.
'Partial' is an adjective describing a noun (a partial victory). 'Partially' is an adverb describing a verb or adjective (The door was partially open).
It is standard but leans slightly informal. It's perfectly acceptable in general writing and speech to express a personal preference.
No. When meaning 'incomplete', it's neutral. When meaning 'biased', it's negative. When used in 'partial to', it's positive or neutral regarding a preference.
not whole or complete.
Partial: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɑː.ʃəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɑːr.ʃəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “partial to a pint (UK, informal)”
- “a partial victory”
- “show partiality”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PARTIAL pie – you only get a PART of it, not the whole (AL) pie.
Conceptual Metaphor
WHOLENESS IS COMPLETENESS / KNOWLEDGE IS VISION (partial view, partial understanding).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'partial' mean 'having a liking for'?