Term: bipartisan
bipartisan (adjective): involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies.
synonyms: cross-party, dual-party, cooperative, non-partisan (though slightly different).
pronunciation: /baɪˈpɑːr.tɪ.zən/
translation: divpusējs, abpusējs (starp divām partijām), abpartiju
example: The new infrastructure bill passed with bipartisan support, receiving votes from both Democrats and Republicans.
other words from this root: bipartisanship (noun).
Understanding the Concept
In a two-party system (like in the United States), most issues are “partisan,” meaning the parties disagree. When a “bipartisan” agreement occurs, it suggests that the issue is so important or the solution so logical that both sides have set aside their rivalry to work together.
Bipartisan vs. Non-partisan vs. Unanimous
It is easy to confuse these terms, but they describe different levels of agreement:
| Term | Meaning | Example |
| Bipartisan | Two opposing parties agree. | A law co-sponsored by a liberal and a conservative. |
| Non-partisan | Not biased toward any political group. | A judge or a charity that stays out of politics. |
| Unanimous | Everyone agrees (100%). | A jury deciding a verdict or a club choosing a leader. |