partisan

¹ American  

[pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn, pahr-tuh-zan] / ˈpɑr tə zən, -sən, ˌpɑr təˈzæn /

Sometimes partizan

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.

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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 American  

[pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn] / ˈpɑr tə zən, -sən /

Also partizan

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.

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partisan ¹ British  

/ 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

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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 British  

/ ˈpɑːtɪzən /

noun

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

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Related Words

See follower.

Other Word Forms

• partisanry
  noun
• partisanship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of partisan¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French, from Upper Italian parteźan (Tuscan partigiano ), equivalent to part(e) “faction, part” ( see part) + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin -ēs- adjective suffix of place ( see -ese) + Latin -iānus adjective suffix ( see -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”; see partisan ¹

Explanation

If something is prejudicial towards a particular point of view, you can call it partisan. You'll often hear about partisan politics in the U.S. — since politicians seem to be completely devoted to the agendas of their own parties. Partisan can be used to describe rabid supporters of any person or activity. In American English, however, it is most often used to refer to politics and the American two-party system of Democrats and Republicans. A bill introduced may have partisan support from the party that introduced the bill, or — more rarely it seems to American voters — the bill may even have bipartisan support. The prefix bi is added to show the support from both parties.

Example Sentences

"It was obvious how fast they were going to evolve artistically," said Tim Putnam, who signed the band to Partisan Records in 2020, in an interview with Rolling Stone.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Back in America, the budding liberal intellectual’s name was showing up atop impressive essays and reviews in the New Yorker and Partisan Review.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Blondshell’s debut LP is due in spring from Partisan Records; before that, she’ll hit the road as Suki Waterhouse’s opener on a tour that will wrap with a pair of hometown gigs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2023

Partisan resistance groups sprang up, the largest among the Dutch, the French, the Polish, the Soviets, and the Yugoslavs.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Partisan differences never led to partisan hatred of him; party faction did not touch him.

From Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission by Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission

Related Words

• backer
• defender
• devotee
• follower
• stalwart
• supporter
• sympathizer
• zealot