noun A1 Beginner Very common

party

PAH-tee

Party (noun) means a social gathering held for enjoyment, often with food, drink, and entertainment. Example: “They threw a huge party for her birthday.”

noun

A social gathering held for enjoyment, often with food, drink, and entertainment.

"They threw a huge party for her birthday."

"The office party ran long into the evening."

An organised political group that puts forward candidates and policies.

"She has voted for the same party her whole life."

"The two main parties disagreed on almost every issue."

One of the sides involved in a legal agreement, dispute, or transaction.

"Both parties signed the contract on Friday."

"The court asked each party to submit evidence."

A group of people travelling or working together for a shared purpose.

"A search party was sent out to look for the missing hikers."

verb

To celebrate or socialise, typically with drinking, music, and dancing.

"They partied all night to celebrate the win."

How to Use Party

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: a celebration, a political organisation, a side in a dispute, or a group doing something together.

Common mistake

In legal writing, "party" refers to a side in an agreement or case, not a celebration — context makes the meaning clear.

Common pairings

throw a party political party the other party search party

Word Forms

more party comparative, partied past tense, parties plural, parties singular, most party superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They threw a huge _____ for her birthday.

Etymology

From Old French partie, "a part, a side," from partir, "to divide," ultimately from Latin pars, "a part" — the same root as "part."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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celebration gathering bash function social blowout gala get-together knees-up partay shindig shivoo

Related Words

group social act hit role event meeting conference

Rhymes for party

arty Marty hearty smarty Fogarty Moriarty

See all rhymes for party →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “party” mean?

The word “party” means a social gathering held for enjoyment, often with food, drink, and entertainment. In plain terms, depending on context: a celebration, a political organisation, a side in a dispute, or a group doing something together.

How do you pronounce “party”?

“Party” is pronounced PAH-tee (/ˈpɑɹti/ in IPA).

How do you use “party” in a sentence?

Here is “party” used in a sentence: “They threw a huge party for her birthday.”

What is another word for “party”?

Words with a similar meaning to “party” include blowout, gala, get-together, knees-up, partay and shindig.

What part of speech is “party”?

Depending on how it is used, “party” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “party” come from?

The word “party” comes from Latin. From Old French partie, "a part, a side," from partir, "to divide," ultimately from Latin pars, "a part" — the same root as "part.".

Is “party” a common word?

“Party” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “party” have?

“Party” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a social gathering held for enjoyment, often with food, drink, and entertainment.

What are the different types of parties?

Popular kinds include birthday parties, dinner parties, cocktail parties, house parties, costume or theme parties, surprise parties, and holiday parties. They vary by occasion, size, and formality — from a quiet gathering with a few friends to a large celebration with music, food, and dancing.

What is the difference between a party and a celebration?

A party is a specific social event where people gather to enjoy themselves, usually with food, drink, and entertainment. A celebration is the broader act of marking a happy occasion, which might be a party — or a quiet dinner, a ceremony, or a simple toast.

What is an example of a party?

A birthday party is a classic example: guests gather to celebrate someone's birthday with cake, music, gifts, and games. Other examples include a New Year's Eve party, a wedding reception, or a casual house party where friends meet for food, drinks, and conversation.

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