impartiality

Everyday

1. Being fair and not taking sides; treating everyone in the same way. tree →
2. (formal) In news, law and sport, the rule that a judge, referee, reporter or teacher must not favour one person or group. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship and media lessons, impartiality is why the BBC and other public broadcasters must give both sides of a story, why judges must not judge friends' cases, and why referees must be neutral. In school, a teacher marking fairly shows impartiality. Phrases: show impartiality, strict impartiality, keep impartiality.

Examples

• The referee's impartiality was questioned after the penalty. tree →
• Judges must show impartiality in court. tree →
• The news channel promised impartiality in its election coverage. tree →
• Our teacher marked the stories blind to keep her impartiality. tree →
• Impartiality means treating your best friend and a stranger the same in a game. tree →
• A judge who knows the person on trial may step aside to protect impartiality. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Adjective «impartial»; opposite «partiality» or «bias». «Impartial» does not mean «partly»: it comes from not being «partial» (favouring one part or side).