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

We have reached a point at which conspiratorial thinking in itself is its own kind of political movement—one that often exists outside traditional partisan lines.

From Slate • Apr. 26, 2026

It does not stop neatly at the boundaries of partisan convenience.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

For a moment, he adds, it transcended partisan divisions.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Those were not the words of a partisan politician.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Valentina flew more than 1,850 of these missions, and evacuated around 2,500 orphaned children and wounded partisan fighters.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

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