partisan

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

/ ˈpɑr tə zən, -sən; British ˌpɑr təˈzæn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR partisan ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.

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

of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.: partisan politics.

of, relating to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.

Nearby words

parting line, parting of the ways, parting shot, parting strip, partis, partisan, partisanism, partita, partite, partition, partition chromatography

Also partizan.

Origin of partisan

1545–55; < Middle French, from Upper Italian parteźan (Tuscan partigiano), equivalent to part(e) “faction, part” + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin *-ēs- -ese + Latin -iānus -ian)

SYNONYMS FOR partisan

3 biased, prejudiced.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR partisan ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR partisan

1 opponent.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR partisan ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

par·ti·san·ship, par·ti·san·ry, noun

Synonym study

1. See follower.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for partisanship

An independent candidate could even be the next mayor of the city most synonymous with partisanship.
Candidates in Maine, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., Challenge Republicans and Democrats Alike|Linda Killian|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Rove, you make these claims purely as conjecture without any facts, fanned by the emotions of your partisanship.
Karl Rove’s Awful, and Afactual, Remarks About Hillary Clinton’s Health|Sally Kohn|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same cannot be said of immigration, where culture is behind politics and partisanship.
Life as an Undocumented Immigrant|Jose Antonio Vargas|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, obviously, there are multiple variables—like partisanship, spending, and events—that affect outcomes.
Yet Another Obamacare "Game Changer" That Wasn't|Jamelle Bouie|February 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Well, guess what the cult of speed gives us, whatever our partisanship?
Chris Christie and the Runaway High-Speed Presidency Train|James Poulos|January 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also the partisanship of the eight volumes grows into a weariness.
Adventures in Criticism|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
In this beneficent work sections and races should be forgotten and partisanship should be unknown.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches|Various
The partisanship of the big football games has always been to me one of the most mystifying features in American life.
Pieces of Hate|Heywood Broun
Mazzini, blinded by his partisanship, saw only proof that Cavour's sympathies were more with the oppressors than the oppressed.
The Life of Mazzini|Bolton King
Hutchinson was an Anglican clergyman, but we need not charge him with partisanship in accusing the Presbyterians.
A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718|Wallace Notestein

British Dictionary definitions for partisanship (1 of 2)

partisan

partizan

/ (ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn, ˈpɑːtɪˌzæn) /

noun

an adherent or devotee of a cause, party, etc

a member of an armed resistance group within occupied territory, esp in Italy or the Balkans in World War II
(as modifier)partisan forces

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan

relating to or excessively devoted to one party, faction, etc; one-sidedpartisan control

Derived Forms

partisanship or partizanship, noun

Word Origin for partisan

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

British Dictionary definitions for partisanship (2 of 2)

partisan

partizan

/ (ˈpɑːtɪzən) /

noun

a spear or pike with two opposing axe blades or spikes

Word Origin for partisan

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012