partisan

1 of 2

noun (1)

par·​ti·​san ˈpär-tə-zən  -sən 

-ˌzan

chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan

variants or less commonly partizan

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 (Massachusetts) Union

partisanly

ˈpär-tə-zən-lē 

-sən-, 

-ˌzan-

chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan-

adverb

partisan

2 of 2

noun (2)

par·​ti·​san ˈpär-tə-zən 

-sən

variants or partizan

: a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of partisan

Noun (1)

• adherent
• follower
• disciple

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of partisan in a Sentence

Noun (1)

partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all

a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it

she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But there's also a dynamic here where the partisans on each side justify themselves by looking at the bad examples on the other side. —ABC News, 7 June 2026

With a large pack of Democrats running and just two serious Republican contenders, Democratic partisans feared their fractured vote would let the GOP nab both spots in Tuesday’s top-two primary. —Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026

Tribalism renders too many partisans unable to think ahead more than one election. —Washington Post Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026

It was then recycled on social media by anti-Israel partisans who amplified the slur into an urban legend. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle French partisane, from north Italian dialect partiźana, feminine of partiźan

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for partisan

• artisan
• bipartisan
• nonpartisan

Kids Definition

partisan

noun

par·​ti·​san

ˈpärt-ə-zən

1

: a person who is strongly devoted to a particular cause or group

2

: guerrilla

partisan adjective

partisanship

-ˌship

noun