Skip to main content
impartial

impartial

74 4.2
Not supporting one side and treating people fairly
  • adjective
  • /ɪmˈpɑːrʃəl/
translation icon : imparcial
  • Our news is impartial, it's top-of-the-line.
  • fair and impartial
  • an impartial judge
  • an impartial observer

It was not a fair and impartial jury.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • We're gonna receive a fair trial from an impartial jury.

  • Will you render an impartial verdict based upon the evidence presented in this courtroom?

  • My question, I think, goes to the need to have impartial news.

  • We're more of an impartial jury.

  • Do you all think you can be fair and impartial, regardless of the consequences?

  • Everyone deserves an impartial review.

  • I can clearly proudly say that United Nations is the most impartial organization.

  • Tell you what, why don't we let an impartial judge decide.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The mediator is a neutral, impartial third party that can work with both the employee and the manager.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The judge must remain impartial to ensure a fair trial for both parties.

Synonyms

fair
vsimpartial
1.0

Treating people equally and honestly

focuses on equal treatment rather than honesty alone
objective
vsimpartial
238 4.3

Not influenced by personal feelings and based only on facts

includes fairness and equal treatment beyond factual focus
neutral
vsimpartial
218 3.6

Not supporting either side in a conflict

extends beyond taking no side to ensure equal treatment
unbiased
vsimpartial
43 4.4

Does not show personal feelings or opinions and treats people fairly

applies equal and fair standards to people and groups
equitable
vsimpartial
35 6.7

Being fair and giving the same treatment to everyone

stresses fair and equal treatment in everyday situations
nonpartisan
vsimpartial
34 6.0

Not connected to or controlled by any political party

applies equal treatment beyond political affiliations to all groups
disinterested
vsimpartial
22 5.9

Not influenced by personal feelings and fair to everyone

actively treats people and groups equally and fairly in decisions
dispassionate
vsimpartial
  • Formal
14 6.7

Not letting strong feelings affect your judgment

aims to treat people and groups equally with fair decisions
fair-minded
vsimpartial
12 4.4

Being careful to judge people and ideas honestly without taking sides

aims to give equal and fair treatment to everyone
indifferent
vsimpartial
10 3.7

Not supporting one person or group in a situation

actively treats all people and groups equally and fairly
just
vsimpartial
9 1.1

Fair and morally right

focuses on equal treatment rather than moral or legal correctness
evenhanded
vsimpartial
3 6.0

Treating people fairly without showing favor to anyone

keeps balance by treating parties equally and fairly
unprejudiced
vsimpartial
1 6.0

Fair and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions when judging people and ideas

acts to treat people equally and without unfair attitudes
nondiscriminatory
vsimpartial
1 4.8

Treating all people fairly and equally without favoring anyone

is about equal and fair treatment in any situation
nonbiased
vsimpartial
1 4.5

Not favoring one person or group and treating all sides fairly

ensures equal and fair treatment of people and groups
unopinionated
vsimpartial
1 6.0

Not having strong opinions or showing them

moves beyond silence to actively treat all people equally
nonpartial
vsimpartial
6.5

Not favoring any person or side and treating all fairly

focuses on equal and fair treatment for people and groups
nondiscriminating
vsimpartial
4.6

Treating all people the same without unfair preference

emphasizes equal and fair treatment rather than no distinctions
unbiassed
vsimpartial
  • UK
5.8

Does not let personal feelings affect a decision

focuses on treating everyone equally and fairly in outcomes
nonprejudiced
vsimpartial
4.9

Not showing unfair dislike or bias toward other people

focuses on equal treatment instead of negative preconceptions
sideless
vsimpartial
6.3

Not supporting either side in a dispute

adds the idea of fair treatment of people and groups
unsectarian
vsimpartial
8.1

Open to people of all religions and groups

focuses on treating everyone equally across different groups

Antonyms

91 4.0

Showing unfair favor to one person, group, or side

28 4.7

Favoring one side or person rather than being fair

How Fair

unbiased
43 4.4
impartial
74 4.2
fair
1.0
neutral
218 3.6

Surface Forms

impartial positive
impartialer comparative
impartialest superlative

Morphology

impartial = partial (transparent) = im + partial

The negative prefix 'im-' is productively attached to 'partial' to give the straightforward meaning 'not partial' (not biased).

Etymology

The word impartial comes from the negative prefix im- meaning 'not' and partial, which comes from part meaning 'a side' or 'a piece'. So, impartial is 'not' taking any 'side' — like a referee who stays fair and treats everyone equally.