partisan

¹

[ pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn; British pahr-tuh-zan ]

noun

1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.

   Antonyms: opponent

2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, especially a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.:

   partisan politics.

   Synonyms: prejudiced, biased

2. of, relating to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.

partisan

²

[ pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn ]

noun

1. a shafted weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries, having as a head a long spear blade with a pair of curved lobes at the base.

partisan

¹

/ ˈpɑːtɪˌzæn; ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. an adherent or devotee of a cause, party, etc
2. 1. a member of an armed resistance group within occupied territory, esp in Italy or the Balkans in World War II
   2. ( as modifier )

      partisan forces

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan
2. relating to or excessively devoted to one party, faction, etc; one-sided

   partisan control

partisan

²

/ ˈpɑːtɪzən /

noun

1. a spear or pike with two opposing axe blades or spikes

Derived Forms

• ˌpartiˈsanship, noun

Other Words From

• par·ti·san·ship par·ti·san·ry noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of partisan¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French, from Upper Italian parteźan (Tuscan partigiano ), equivalent to part(e) “faction, part” ( part ) + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin -ēs- adjective suffix of place ( -ese ) + Latin -iānus adjective suffix ( -ian )

Origin of partisan²

1550–60; < Middle French partizane < Upper Italian parteźana, probably by ellipsis from (unattested) arma parteźana “weapon borne by members of a faction”; partisan ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of partisan¹

C16: via French, from Old Italian partigiano, from parte faction, from Latin pars part

Origin of partisan²

C16: from French partizane, from Old Italian partigiana, from partigiano partisan ¹

Synonym Study

See follower.

Example Sentences

But, "political and partisan conflicts between the president and senators have at times produced dramatic fights over cabinet nominees and led to their ultimate withdrawal or rejection," the Senate's historical website notes.

From BBC

“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

In his Truth Social post revealing the news, Trump promised that Gaetz would end “the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.”

From Slate

Thune, an amiable 63-year-old more comfortable talking about the Senate calendar than he is castigating his opposition as demonically possessed, gave his best shot at an opening partisan broadside in a press conference after the Senate GOP conclave.

From Slate

Trump wanted to nominate Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence until even Republican senators warned him that the Texas congressman was too partisan and inexperienced for the job.

From Slate

Related Words

• biased
• one-sided
• sectarian
• sympathetic
• unjust