partner

[ pahrt-ner ]

noun

1. a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate.

   Synonyms: accomplice, accessory, colleague

2. Law.
   1. a person associated with another or others as a principal or a contributor of capital in a business or a joint venture, usually sharing its risks and profits.
   2. special partner.
3. silent partner.
4. a spouse; a husband or a wife.
5. the person with whom one cohabits in a romantic relationship:

   I'd like you to meet my partner, Sarah.

6. either of two people who dance together:

   my favorite partner in the waltz.

7. a player on the same side or team as another:

   My tennis partner was an excellent player.

8. partners, Nautical. a framework of timber round a hole in a ship's deck, to support a mast, capstan, pump, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to associate as a partner or partners with.
2. to serve as the partner of.

partner

/ ˈpɑːtnə /

noun

1. an ally or companion

   a partner in crime

2. a member of a partnership
3. one of a pair of dancers or players on the same side in a game

   my bridge partner

4. either member of a couple in a relationship

verb

1. to be or cause to be a partner (of)

Derived Forms

• ˈpartnerless, adjective

Other Words From

• partner·less adjective
• non·partner noun
• under·partner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of partner¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English partener, alteration of parcener by association with part

Word History and Origins

Origin of partner¹

C14: variant (influenced by part ) of parcener

Example Sentences

When chimpanzees played with only one other individual, it often involved close social partners, illustrating the strong connection between play, familiarity, and trust.

From Science Daily

In his state-of-the-nation address on Thursday, Ruto said the deals had been cancelled based on "new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations".

From BBC

A spokesman said the company wanted to “assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organization, fully compliant with all laws.”

From New York Times

She was happy to discover that other things were more negotiable than her partner’s favorite football team.

From Los Angeles Times

After Shari Redstone nixed David Ellison’s proposed takeover, the tech scion and his partners continued to work to win over the Redstone family.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ally
• associate
• colleague
• companion
• friend
• husband
• participant
• spouse
• wife