partner

[ pahrt-ner ]

noun

1. a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate.

   Synonyms: accomplice, accessory, colleague

2. Law.
   1. a person associated with another or others as a principal or a contributor of capital in a business or a joint venture, usually sharing its risks and profits.
   2. special partner.
3. silent partner.
4. a spouse; a husband or a wife.
5. the person with whom one cohabits in a romantic relationship:

   I'd like you to meet my partner, Sarah.

6. either of two people who dance together:

   my favorite partner in the waltz.

7. a player on the same side or team as another:

   My tennis partner was an excellent player.

8. partners, Nautical. a framework of timber round a hole in a ship's deck, to support a mast, capstan, pump, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to associate as a partner or partners with.
2. to serve as the partner of.

partner

/ ˈpɑːtnə /

noun

1. an ally or companion

   a partner in crime

2. a member of a partnership
3. one of a pair of dancers or players on the same side in a game

   my bridge partner

4. either member of a couple in a relationship

verb

1. to be or cause to be a partner (of)

Derived Forms

• ˈpartnerless, adjective

Other Word Forms

• partner·less adjective
• non·partner noun
• under·partner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of partner¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English partener, alteration of parcener by association with part

Word History and Origins

Origin of partner¹

C14: variant (influenced by part ) of parcener

Example Sentences

Cheyenne is fiery and brash — in one scene she rejects a series of dance partners by describing a murder — but de Laâge imbues her with emotional complexity.

From Los Angeles Times

Formerly practice partners, their relationship appears to have soured over the years.

From BBC

He also is a partner in Coogler’s new production company, Proximity Media.

From Los Angeles Times

Son Tatum Thompson came a couple of years later, after Thompson fathered a kid with another woman and after Kardashian finally decided she was done with the NBA star as a partner.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the demise of his former production company, a trail of lawsuits and bad publicity, Emmett continues to to line up producing partners and big-name stars to make his small-budget films.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ally
• associate
• colleague
• companion
• friend
• husband
• participant
• spouse
• wife