partisan

¹

Sometimes par·ti·zan

[pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn, pahr-tuh-zan]

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.

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

Also par·ti·zan

[pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn]

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.

partisan

¹

/ 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

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

/ ˈpɑːtɪzən /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• partisanship noun
• partisanry noun

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of partisan¹

C16: via French, from Old Italian partigiano, from parte faction, from Latin pars _part

Origin of partisan²

C16: from French partizane, from Old Italian partigiana, from partigiano _partisan ¹

Synonym Study

See follower.

Example Sentences

Scottish referee Holly Davidson, to great roars from the partisan crowd, ruled out two tries for New Zealand through Clarke and Will Jordan.

Read more on Barron's

The Fed presidents provide an apolitical buffer because they aren’t political appointees and often have no partisan background.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On both Israel and India he has staked out starkly partisan positions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Writing for the majority, Judge Jeffrey Brown said the evidence showed the decision went beyond partisan gerrymandering.

Read more on Salon

In the days and weeks after the 2020 election, partisans across the country used lies and deceit to try to defraud the American people and steal the White House.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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