partnership

American  

[pahrt-ner-ship] / ˈpɑrt nərˌʃɪp /

noun

• partnerships
  plural

1. the state or condition of being a partner; participation; association; joint interest.

2. Law.

   1. the relation subsisting between partners.

   2. the contract creating this relation.

   3. an association of persons joined as partners in business.

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partnership British  

/ ˈpɑːtnəʃɪp /

noun

1. 1. a contractual relationship between two or more persons carrying on a joint business venture with a view to profit, each incurring liability for losses and the right to share in the profits

   2. the deed creating such a relationship

   3. the persons associated in such a relationship

2. the state or condition of being a partner

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partnership Cultural  

1. An association of two or more persons to conduct a business. In contrast to a corporation, those who engage in a partnership are liable for debts incurred by the company to the full extent of their private fortunes rather than merely to the extent of their investment.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prepartnership
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• partnerships
  plural

Etymology

Origin of partnership

First recorded in 1570–80; partner + -ship

Explanation

What do Lewis and Clark, Bonnie and Clyde, and Ben and Jerry have in common? They all formed partnerships — cooperative relationships where they worked as a team to reach a goal, whether it was robbing banks or inventing Cherry Garcia. It’s easy to spot partner hidden inside partnership. That should clue you in to the fact the word is all about the deal sealed between two or more people, groups, or even countries that agree to throw their lot in together to achieve something both want. A partnership can be a legal business relationship sealed by a contract or a casual handshake-driven agreement between friends. A marriage is a partnership. So is a corporate merger.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

partnership partnerships

Traveling is something we both want in a partnership.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

Mastercard rolled out an artificial-intelligence payment option Thursday for everyday purchases, through a partnership with the startup Alchemy, the companies said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

The dignity of sovereign womanhood aside, it’s also a genuine life partnership concern.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

She notes their recent partnership with Stormzy's stylist Melissa Holbrook-Akposoe, who goes by Melissa's Wardrobe on social media, as "adding credibility" for younger shoppers.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

At the end of 1982 the bank, desperate to show a profit, pro-posed a whirlwind deal to sell its headquarters to a partnership of seven customers for $75 million.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

In past vetoes, he said such programs could undermine partnerships community colleges have built with CSU and other universities that already award the degrees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

He has spent much of his time in office jet-setting across the globe to drum up new investment and forge new trade and security partnerships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

And, even though both sides try to put up legal boundaries to protect their intellectual property, consumer-goods companies with private-label partnerships can end up tipping their hand to retailers.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Madison Brown works in tech partnerships, having previously worked in corporate jobs for 10 years.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

This was yet another consequence of turning Wall Street partnerships into public corporations: It turned them into objects of speculation.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• assistance
• association
• business
• company
• cooperation
• cooperative
• corporation
• firm
• friendship
• interest
• organization
• ownership
• sharing
• society
• tie up
• union