Partisan Meaning
/ˈpɑː.tɪˌzæn/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn adherent to a party or faction.
nounA fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
Sentence Examples
Partisan politics is getting in the way of necessary finance reform.
What does a bike path have to do with partisan politics?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The debate turned into a ____ fight between the two political groups.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The newspaper was accused of ____ reporting that consistently favored one political party over others.
Word Origin & History
From French partisan, from Italian partigiano (“defender of a party”), from parte (“part”). Doublet of partigiano. Attested in English from the late 15th century in the noun sense of "party adherent", and in related adjective senses from the 16th century. The "guerrilla fighter" sense influenced by Serbo-Croatian partizan, Russian партиза́н (partizán), from the same source. The sense of "guerrilla fighter" is from c. 1690. The adjective in the military sense dates from the early 18th century.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Strong partisans of neither party, Indiana farmers failed to act as a block […]""
— 1992, Thomas R. Pegram, Partisans and Progressives: Private Interest and Public Policy in Illinois:
"Having put partisan interests to one side, Greenwood set about making teamwork a watchword for her chairmanship, while seeking the broadest possible participation in subsequent inquiries."
— 2020 June 3, Lilian Greenwood talks to Paul Stephen, “Rail's 'underlying challenges' remain”, in Rail, page 33:
"England will regard it as a measure of justice for Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup - but it was also an illustration of how they rode their luck for long periods in front of a predictably partisan home crowd."
— 2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:
"He finds, not “demigods” but “a combative group of exhausted, drunken, broken, petty, partisan, scheming, squabbling, bloviating, sensory-deprived, underoxygenated, fed-up, talked-out, overheated delegates so distraught they threatened violence, secession."
— 2013, The Ultimate Daily Show and Philosophy:
"I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave."
— c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The debate turned into a ____ fight between the two political groups.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The newspaper was accused of ____ reporting that consistently favored one political party over others.