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

party-liner

ˌpär-tē-ˈlī-nər 

noun

Examples of party line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ryan was one of 103 Democrats in the House to break with his party line and vote to end all aid to Israel earlier this month. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026

The Senate voted Monday along party lines to advance his nomination, without the support of the Democrats on the intelligence committee who helped expedite his nomination prior to his controversial remarks about the 2020 election. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Criticism also bubbled up in Washington, much along party lines. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Yet most of them don’t currently see Democrats as willing to give enough ground to avoid a shutdown, even as Senate Majority Leader John Thune threatens a stressful backup plan of trying to fund the government along party lines. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for party line

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline