Nonpartisan means not favoring or supporting any particular political party or side. When something is nonpartisan, it stays neutral and fair rather than taking sides in political disagreements.

A nonpartisan organization, like many voter registration groups, helps all citizens participate in democracy without pushing them toward any particular party or candidate. A nonpartisan news report presents the facts without trying to make one side look better than the other. When your school holds a nonpartisan debate about a local issue, the goal is to explore different viewpoints fairly, not to convince everyone to pick one side.

The word combines “non” (meaning not) with “partisan,” which describes strong support for a particular party or cause. While being partisan means showing clear loyalty to one side, being nonpartisan means stepping back from those loyalties to focus on fairness, accuracy, or the common good.

Many government positions are meant to be nonpartisan. For example, judges are supposed to make decisions based on the law, not their political preferences. Similarly, some city councils operate on a nonpartisan basis, with members focusing on practical problems like fixing roads or managing parks rather than party politics.

Being nonpartisan doesn't mean having no opinions. It means setting aside party loyalty to focus on facts, fairness, or what benefits everyone rather than just one group.