Bipartisan
Adjective
Definition: Involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.
Synonyms: Nonpartisan, Cross-party, Cooperative, Collaborative
Antonyms: Partisan, One-sided, Unilateral
- The bill received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
- The two politicians reached a bipartisan agreement on healthcare reform.
- "Bi" refers to two, indicating cooperation between two parties.
Etymology:
The word "bipartisan" originated in the early 20th century from the combination of "bi-" meaning two and "partisan" referring to a supporter of a particular party or cause.
Historical Usage:The term began to gain prominence in the United States during the mid-20th century, when there was an increasing emphasis on cooperation between political parties.
Related Idioms:
"Bipartisan effort"
Explanation:Refers to a collective or joint endeavor between members of different political parties to achieve a common goal.
Misconceptions:
Bipartisan means complete agreement between two parties.
Explanation:While bipartisan does signify agreement or cooperation between two opposing parties, it does not necessarily mean complete alignment or elimination of differences. It implies finding common ground or compromises between different policy positions.