partisk

Partisk is an adjective used in several Scandinavian languages to describe partiality or bias. It characterizes a person, argument, source, or assessment that favors a side, viewpoint, or outcome, thereby lacking neutrality or impartiality.

The term derives from words meaning “side” or “part” and the suffix -isk; cognate forms include Danish partisk and Swedish partisk. The corresponding noun is partiskhet, meaning bias or partisanship.

In practice, partisk is commonly used in journalism, academia, and public debate to critique coverage or conclusions that appear to favor one side. Common collocations include partisk kilde, partisk vurdering, or å være partisk. Its use signals a negative assessment of impartiality.

Although the connotation is usually negative, some contexts describe bias as a natural or unavoidable stance; however, in professional contexts such as newsrooms or court proceedings, partisk analysis undermines credibility and underscores the need for verifiable, balanced evidence.

See also bias, impartiality, neutrality.