partisan
PAH-tih-zan
Partisan (noun) means a strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader. Example: “The rally was full of partisans waving flags for their candidate.”
noun
1
A strong, often unquestioning supporter of a party, cause, or leader.
"The rally was full of partisans waving flags for their candidate."
"Every loyal partisan of the club sang along from the first minute."
"He was such a partisan that he never admitted his team could lose."
2
A guerrilla fighter operating behind enemy lines, especially during wartime.
"The partisans sabotaged railway lines to slow the invading army."
adj
1
Strongly biased in favour of one side, party, or cause.
"The debate quickly turned partisan, with neither side willing to compromise."
"The home crowd was loudly partisan and booed every decision against their team."
"A partisan referee would never be trusted by either side."
How to use partisan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) strongly loyal to one side of a political or ideological divide.
Common pairings
partisan politics
bitterly partisan
partisan lines
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like partisan.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- partisans
- Comparative
- more partisan
- Superlative
- most partisan
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rally was full of _____ waving flags for their candidate.
Etymology
From Italian partigiano, "defender of a party," from parte, "part."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for partisan
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include partisan:
