partisan
0 antonyms and opposites of partisan, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader.
How to use partisan
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Italian partigiano, "defender of a party," from parte, "part."
Full origin of partisan →Frequently asked questions
What does “partisan” mean?
The word “partisan” means a strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader. In plain terms, someone (or something) strongly loyal to one side of a political or ideological divide.
How do you pronounce “partisan”?
“Partisan” is pronounced PAH-tih-zan (/ˈpɑɹ.tɪ.zən/ in IPA).
How do you use “partisan” in a sentence?
Here is “partisan” used in a sentence: “The rally was full of partisans waving flags for their candidate.”
What part of speech is “partisan”?
Depending on how it is used, “partisan” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “partisan” come from?
The word “partisan” comes from Italian. From Italian partigiano, "defender of a party," from parte, "part.".
Is “partisan” a common word?
“Partisan” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “partisan” have?
“Partisan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader.
What is the difference between partisan and bipartisan?
Partisan describes strong bias in favour of one party, side, or cause, often at the expense of fairness or compromise. Bipartisan means involving cooperation between two opposing parties, the near opposite of partisan behaviour.
Is partisan always used negatively?
Partisan often carries a negative connotation when describing excessive or unquestioning bias that ignores other viewpoints, especially in politics. However, it can be used neutrally simply to describe someone's party allegiance without implying criticism.
What is the historical meaning of partisan as a noun?
Historically, a partisan was a guerrilla fighter operating behind enemy lines, especially during wartime, distinct from its modern political sense of a strong party supporter. This wartime meaning is still used in historical writing about resistance movements.