partisan

play

noun par·ti·san \ ˈpär-tə-zən , -sən , -ˌzan , chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan \

variants: or less commonly partizan

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of partisan

1 :a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially :one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance

political partisans who see only one side of the problem

2 a :a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy

Peasant partisans assaulted the French army.

b :a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines

Polish partisans had blown up two trains
—Springfield (Mass.) Union

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partisan

adjective

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partisanly

play \ˈpär-tə-zən-lē, -sən-, -ˌzan-, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-\ adverb

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partisanship

play \ˈpär-tə-zən-ˌship, -sən-, -ˌzan-, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-\ noun

partisan and Politics

A partisan is someone who supports one part or party. Sometimes the support takes the form of military action, as when guerrilla fighters take on government forces. But partisan is actually most often used as an adjective, usually referring to support of a political party. so if you're accused of being too partisan, or of practicing partisan politics, it means you're mainly interested in boosting your own party and attacking the other one.

Origin and Etymology of partisan

Middle French partisan, from north Italian dialect partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1555

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of partisan

follower, adherent, disciple, partisan mean one who gives full loyalty and support to another. follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another.

- an evangelist and his followers

adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment.

- adherents to Marxism

disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master.

- disciples of Gandhi

partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment.

- partisans of the President

partisan

adjective

Definition of partisan

1 :feeling, showing, or deriving from strong and sometimes blind adherence to a particular party, faction, cause, or person :exhibiting, characterized by, or resulting from partisanship

partisan politics

partisan loyalty

Secularism is indeed correlated with greater tolerance of gay marriage and pot legalization. But it's also making America's partisan clashes more brutal.
—Peter Beinart

The editorial page of the newspaper captured the mood of an America frustrated by partisan division …
—Joseph Cress

The modern Democratic party may honor the cerebral Jefferson as one of its founders, but the true paternity lies with the fiercely partisan Jackson. He made it a fighting electoral force.
—Bernard A. Weisberger

2 :of, carried on by, or being military partisans