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

Observers have pointed to the rising divisions in national politics beginning with the tea party dissidents during Barack Obama’s presidency and ongoing ultra-partisanship as well as the often violent rhetoric used by prominent figures including the president as factors that could lead to attacks. —Rachel Clarke, CNN Money, 24 June 2025

Following the memorial moment and patriotic flypast on May 5, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans and members of the World War II generation at Buckingham Palace. —Janine Henni, People.com, 5 May 2025

First, traditional tea parties always use loose-leaf tea—never bagged. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2025

Both come out of the tea party movement of more than a decade ago. —W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Mar. 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