partial — not complete or whole; existing only in part
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not complete or whole; existing only in part
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɑːrʃəl/
Example Sentences
- My dog is partial to expensive dog food but refuses to eat the cheap stuff.
- The student received partial credit for showing his work even though the answer was wrong.
- I'm only giving you a partial explanation because the full story would take three hours.
partial
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpɑːrʃəl/]
not complete or whole; existing only in part
The door was only partial open — but it revealed just enough to change everything.
Only PART of the full system was restored — the recovery remained partial. (PART + ALL)
The repair was partial and cautious at first — but gradual progress brought the engine back to life.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English and Old French 'partial', derived from Late Latin 'partialis' meaning 'of or relating to a part', based on Latin 'pars' meaning 'part'.
Breakdown
Latin 'pars' (part) + '-ial' (suffix forming adjectives meaning 'of or relating to') = partial (relating to or affecting only a part)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dog is partial to expensive dog food but refuses to eat the cheap stuff.”
“The student received partial credit for showing his work even though the answer was wrong.”
“I'm only giving you a partial explanation because the full story would take three hours.”
“The referee's partial decisions made both teams equally angry.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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