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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

He may be known as the Great Emancipator, but Abraham Lincoln was a committed partisan who knew how to organize supporters and undermine opponents.

From The Wall Street Journal

“There are people that were on board with warehousing at first, and then it became a big issue. They’ve seen the pollution,” said Cervantes Pacheco, noting that the sentiment crosses partisan lines.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s cutting across every demographic and every partisan line that otherwise seems to divide the nation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Abstaining from partisan politics—many officers even decline to vote—also helps explain the military’s high approval rating among the American people.

From The Wall Street Journal

Volkanovski made his ring walk to the classic Australian song "Down Under" with the partisan crowd firmly in his corner, including Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh.

From Barron's

Related Words

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