party line
noun
1
: the policy or practice of a political party
2
: a single telephone circuit connecting two or more subscribers with the exchange
called also party wire
3
: the principles or policies of an individual or organization
also
: the explanation or interpretation usually put forth
the party line that her mother was a saint —
Leslie Bennetts
Leslie Bennetts 
Examples of party line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her take on immigration is the latest example of her willingness to defy party lines.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
For the bill that Republicans have been putting forward to pass, five additional Democrats would need to cross party lines to support it.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
At the start of the shutdown, Republicans held majorities in both the House and the Senate, but were unable to muster the 60 votes needed to get a spending bill through the upper chamber without Democrats crossing party lines.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
That vote also failed, 47 to 52, along party lines.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for party line
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
For the bill that Republicans have been putting forward to pass, five additional Democrats would need to cross party lines to support it.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
At the start of the shutdown, Republicans held majorities in both the House and the Senate, but were unable to muster the 60 votes needed to get a spending bill through the upper chamber without Democrats crossing party lines.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
That vote also failed, 47 to 52, along party lines.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for party line
Cite this Entry
“Party line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/party%20line. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share