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” ( part ) + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin -ēs- adjective suffix of place ( -ese ) + Latin -iānus adjective suffix ( -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”; partisan ¹

Example Sentences

The supporters at Santagiulia were partisan in favour of the Canadians, with the USA team roundly booed before face-off.

From BBC

Empirical facts have the power to puncture partisan echo chambers and other closed-off belief systems.

From Salon

That said, there are plenty of reasons — none involving any kind of partisan chicanery — that explain why California elections seems to drag on and vote totals shift as ballots are steadily counted.

From Los Angeles Times

The career detour surprised fellow bankers, who said they didn’t view him as particularly partisan.

From The Wall Street Journal

I think there is at least a potential for Mahan to tap into a desire among voters to lower the hostilities just a bit and ease up on our constant partisan war-footing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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