tea party

noun

1

: an afternoon social gathering at which tea is served

2

[from the Boston Tea Party, name applied to the occasion in 1773 when a shipment of tea was thrown into Boston harbor in protest against the tax on imports] : an exciting disturbance or proceeding

3

usually Tea Party : a 21st century U.S. political movement in favor of lower taxes, fewer government regulations and programs, strict immigration control, and a strong military

"Tea Party" has become something of a catch-all term to describe an impassioned and empowered group of populist conservatives. They are largely antigovernment, a lot of them are self-described libertarians, and many say they are new to political activism. It is easy to think of them as a singular entity and a growing one.

—Mark Leibovich

Conservative activists started holding "Tea Party" protests in 2009 to vent outrage over federal stimulus spending, the Wall Street bailout and rising national debt. The movement quickly had an electoral impact, culminating in the 2010 midterm elections when the GOP captured the House.

—Martha T. Moore

Examples of tea party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tomato tea sandwiches aren't just meant for afternoon tea parties. —Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025

Use it at your next tea party or whenever dehydration strikes. —Elissa Suh, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2025

The first stage of planning any party involves vision boarding, researching, and establishing a theme—an afternoon tea party is no exception. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025

Bike Trail Books Bike Trail offers book clubs for almost every reader, events like yoga in the bookstore, tea parties and Mahjong classes. —Otto Rabe, The Enquirer, 31 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tea party

• astarte
• mccarty
• nonparty
• arty
• carty
• hearty
• parti
• counterparty
• multiparty