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

Above all, as hard as it would have been to believe in 2018, partisan rancor has gotten far worse, with both sides hungrier than ever to score political points.

Read more on Barron's

“Americans have the right to trustworthy government health guidance that’s based on science and evidence—not ideology or partisan politics.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The latest round of rumored cuts appears to be less partisan.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The vote broke down mostly along partisan lines.

Read more on BBC

But her reflexively partisan response to the razing of Judge Goodstein’s home is telling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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