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

The concept is simple: Try to collect an item from each category to create a perfect tea party plate. —Jessica Booth, Parents, 1 Nov. 2023

Queen Elizabeth passed the patronage to Queen Camilla, who was then known as the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2016, and King Charles' wife attended a special tea party to see the bears united with their new owners at a kindergarten in east London. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023

Ever since the tea party movement of 2010 elected a wave of anti-establishment conservatives, House Republicans have not merely been divided, but downright dysfunctional. —Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2023

But three very different men have tried to lead House Republicans in the dozen years since the tea party insurgency pushed the party to the right in 2010. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023

The tea party revolt of 2010, which gave Republicans a House majority and set McCarthy on his path to power, was fueled by voter anger at government bailouts after the financial crisis and at then-President Barack Obama’s healthcare program. —Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2023

Your nieces want to have a tea party, but the big game starts in 10 minutes? —Abc News, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2023

Upcoming events include Community Market After Dark, with dancing, drinking, live music and games, and Starry Nights: A Free Family Summer Club, with star studies, tea parties and environmental education. —Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 21 July 2023

Book Now Claridge's In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II hosted a wedding-shower tea party at Claridge's for Marie-Chantal Miller and Prince Pavlos of Greece. —Sarah Bray, Town & Country, 21 June 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1