party

¹par·ty

noun \ˈpär-tē\

plural parties

Definition of PARTY

1

: a person or group taking one side of a question, dispute, or contest

2

: a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government

3

: a person or group participating in an action or affair <a mountain-climbing party> <a party to the transaction>

4

: a particular individual : person <an old party approaching 80>

5

: a detail of soldiers

6

: a social gathering; also : the entertainment provided for it

— party adjective

Examples of PARTY

1. We are having a party.
2. a high school dance party
3. Were you invited to her party?
4. Our New Year's Eve party was a huge success.
5. political parties with opposing agendas
6. The senator is loyal to his party.
7. the two parties in the marriage contract
8. The parties in the lawsuit reached a settlement.

Origin of PARTY

Middle English partie part, party, from Anglo-French, from partir to divide — more at part

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PARTY

Synonyms

affair, bash, binge, blast, blowout, do, event, fete (or fête), function, get-together, powwow, reception, shindig

Antonyms

nonparticipant

Related Words

benefit, fund-raiser; ball, dance, formal, prom; celebration, gala, occasion; bacchanal, bacchanalia, orgy, saturnalia; bake, clambake, cocktail party, hen party, house party, housewarming, icebreaker, kaffeeklatsch, kegger (also keg party), klatch (also klatsch), masquerade, meet and greet, mixer, salon, shower, social, soiree (or soirée), stag, supper, symposium, tea, tea party

Near Antonyms

animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

Rhymes with PARTY

arty, hearty, smarty

²party

intransitive verb

par·tiedpar·ty·ing

Definition of PARTY

: to attend or give parties; broadly : revel 1

— par·ty·er also par·ti·er \-tē-ər\ noun

Examples of PARTY

1. He spent the weekend partying with his friends.

First Known Use of PARTY

1919