partner

American  

[pahrt-ner] / ˈpɑrt nər /

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to associate as a partner or partners with.

2. to serve as the partner of.

partner British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• nonpartner noun
• partnerless adjective
• underpartner noun

Etymology

Origin of partner

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

Example Sentences

Nestlé has already flagged that its water division, including Perrier and Sanpellegrino, is looking for an investment partner, and that some vitamin brands could be sold.

From The Wall Street Journal

Life-threatening health complications around the birth saw his partner Louise hospitalised.

From BBC

“Those margins are slim,” says Sawyer, Kindling’s chef partner and a James Beard Award winner.

From The Wall Street Journal

And when Mr. Gantz’s junior partner became more popular, he left their alliance to found a party of his own.

From The Wall Street Journal

“In initial years of operation you’d probably have losses, which with a pass-through could flow through to partners or LLC members and used as offsets on personal income tax returns,” Doyle says.

From Barron's

Related Words

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