A 2-structure $σ$ consists of a vertex set $V(σ)$ and of an equivalence relation $\equiv_σ$ defined on $(V(σ)\times V(σ))\setminus\{(v,v):v\in V(σ)\}$. Given a 2-structure $σ$, a subset $M$ of $V(σ)$ is a module of $σ$ if for $x,y\in M$ and $v\in V(σ)\setminus M$, $(x,v)\equiv_σ(y,v)$ and $(v,x)\equiv_σ(v,y)$. For instance, $\emptyset$, $V(σ)$ and $\{v\}$, for $v\in V(σ)$, are modules of $σ$ called trivial modules of $σ$. A 2-structure $σ$ is prime if $v(σ)\geq 3$ and all the modules of $σ$ are trivial. A prime 2-structure $σ$ is critical if for each $v\in V(σ)$, $σ-v$ is not prime. A prime 2-structure $σ$ is partially critical if there exists $X\subsetneq V(σ)$ such that $σ[X]$ is prime, and for each $v\in V(σ)\setminus X$, $σ-v$ is not prime. We characterize finite or infinite partially critical 2-structures.