partnership
Americannoun
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partnerships
plural
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the state or condition of being a partner; participation; association; joint interest.
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Law.
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the relation subsisting between partners.
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the contract creating this relation.
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an association of persons joined as partners in business.
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noun
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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
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the deed creating such a relationship
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the persons associated in such a relationship
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the state or condition of being a partner
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of partnership
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.
Vocabulary lists containing partnership
Economics
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 5
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for December 12–18, 2020
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The plan hasn’t seemed to change under current CEO Josh D’Amaro, who managed the Epic Games partnership in his previous role as parks chief and has emphasized the importance of technology in his new position.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
That came as a relief to Opel's workers and the city, though anxieties remain high as the broader auto industry remains under pressure and questions remain about the future shape of the Chinese partnership.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
No reason was given for the end of the partnership - which saw the haircare brand supplying professional hairstylists and hair products to participating artists.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
This was around the time that Amazon's Ring, a doorbell camera firm, cancelled a partnership with Flock after an outcry over a Super Bowl advert which sparked concern about unwanted surveillance.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Two prospectors in partnership discover a mine of preternatural richness—of gold or diamonds or rubies.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Petrie-Morris announced that Fairground’s first products would riff on beloved public domain characters—Robin Hood, etc.—and then hopefully earn access to established IP through studio partnerships.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026
Promises including Wondermind's partnerships and app never materialised, according to the claim.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Some investors have worried about the tight financial relationships between Nvidia and its customers, but analysts say that newly announced partnerships should put those worries to rest for now.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Russo expects Chinese brands to establish a larger global footprint through local investments and partnerships rather than exports alone.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
So the Goodmans entered into partnerships with growers who knew how to grow, harvest, pack, and distribute large quantities of produce.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
