partisan

1 of 3

noun (1)

par·ti·san ˈpär-tə-zən

-sən

-ˌzan,

chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan

variants or less commonly partizan

Synonyms of partisan next

: 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

: a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy

Peasant partisans assaulted the French army.

: 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 3

adjective

: feeling, showing, or deriving from strong and sometimes blind adherence to a particular party, faction, cause, or person : exhibiting, characterized by, or resulting from partisanship

partisan politics

partisan loyalty

Secularism is indeed correlated with greater tolerance of gay marriage and pot legalization. But it's also making America's partisan clashes more brutal.—

Peter Beinart

The editorial page of the newspaper captured the mood of an America frustrated by partisan division …—

Joseph Cress

The modern Democratic party may honor the cerebral Jefferson as one of its founders, but the true paternity lies with the fiercely partisan Jackson. He made it a fighting electoral force.—

Bernard A. Weisberger

: of, carried on by, or being military partisans

partisan fighters

partisan warfare

partisan

3 of 3

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

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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.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some exceptions exist: Ross Perot received just under 19% in 1992 — the high point for an independent — but that came in an era when partisan loyalties were much weaker than today. —

David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024 More recently, those efforts have shifted to exploiting existing partisan divides in the U.S. —

Shannon Bond, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for partisan

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'partisan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Adjective

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of partisan was in 1542

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partisan. Accessed 8 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

partisan

noun

par·ti·san

ˈpärt-ə-zən

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

: guerrilla

partisan adjective

partisanship

-ˌship

noun

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partisan

noun (1)

adjective

noun (2)

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Synonyms

Examples of partisan in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near partisan

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition