partisan

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

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.

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)

Related formspar·ti·san·ship, par·ti·san·ry, noun

Synonyms for partisan

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

3. biased, prejudiced.

Synonym study

1. See follower.

Antonyms for partisan

1. opponent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for partisanship

intolerance, favoritism, bigotry, prejudice, unfairness, tendency, bent, mind-set, penchant, tendentiousness, tilt, flash, propensity, inclination, proclivity, viewpoint, partiality, preconception, preference, disposition

Examples from the Web for partisanship

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of partisanship

Her words were the words of partisanship, and her partisanship was for another as well as himself.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
This is a matter too serious for the bitterness of partisanship.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, April 1, 1914
Various
The Chief Justice did not intend to be drawn into any exhibition of partisanship.
Half a Hero
Anthony Hope
No general spirit of partisanship is aroused—no sympathies excited.
Current History, A Monthly Magazine
New York Times
His soul was too great for the narrow, selfish views of partisanship.
Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Keckley

British Dictionary definitions for partisanship

partisan

partizan

noun

an adherent or devotee of a cause, party, etc
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

of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan
relating to or excessively devoted to one party, faction, etc; one-sidedpartisan control

Derived Formspartisanship or partizanship, noun

Word Origin for partisan

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

partisan

partizan

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

Word Origin and History for partisanship

1831, from partisan + -ship.

partisan

adj.

1708 for warfare, 1842 for politics, from partisan (n.).

partisan

also partizan, 1550s, "one who takes part with another, zealous supporter," from Middle French partisan (15c.), from dialectal upper Italian partezan (Tuscan partigiano) "member of a faction, partner," from parte "part, party," from Latin partem (nominative pars), see part (n.). Sense of "guerilla fighter" is first recorded 1690s.