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View synonyms for partisan

partisan

1

[ pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn; British pahr-tuh-zan ]

noun

  1. an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.

    Antonyms: opponent

  2. Military. a member of a party of light or irregular troops engaged in harassing an enemy, especially a member of a guerrilla band engaged in fighting or sabotage against an occupying army.


adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.:

    partisan politics.

    Synonyms: prejudiced, biased

  2. of, relating to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.

partisan

2

[ pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn ]

noun

  1. a shafted weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries, having as a head a long spear blade with a pair of curved lobes at the base.

partisan

1

/ ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn; ˈpɑːtɪˌzæn /

noun

  1. an adherent or devotee of a cause, party, etc
    1. a member of an armed resistance group within occupied territory, esp in Italy or the Balkans in World War II
    2. ( as modifier )

      partisan forces



adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a partisan
  2. relating to or excessively devoted to one party, faction, etc; one-sided

    partisan control

partisan

2

/ ˈpɑːtɪzən /

noun

  1. a spear or pike with two opposing axe blades or spikes

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Derived Forms

  • ˌpartiˈsanship, noun

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Other Words From

  • par·ti·san·ship par·ti·san·ry noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of partisan1

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French, from Upper Italian parteźan (Tuscan partigiano ), equivalent to part(e) “faction, part” ( part ) + -eźan (from unattested Vulgar Latin -ēs- adjective suffix of place ( -ese ) + Latin -iānus adjective suffix ( -ian )

Origin of partisan2

1550–60; < Middle French partizane < Upper Italian parteźana, probably by ellipsis from (unattested) arma parteźana “weapon borne by members of a faction”; partisan 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of partisan1

C16: via French, from Old Italian partigiano, from parte faction, from Latin pars part

Origin of partisan2

C16: from French partizane, from Old Italian partigiana, from partigiano partisan 1

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

It was a rare moment of bipartisan unity in partisan Washington.

This is a job for independent committees, like Bowles-Simpson, not a partisan slugfest.

The first meeting featured multiple speakers deeply rooted in a partisan agenda.

A number of clearly partisan studies have suggested that cats are unfeeling and sociopathic.

According to the non-partisan Public Policy Institute, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation.

He was so zealous a partisan of democracy, and of Cromwell, that the authorities frequently placed him in a straight jacket.

He was a bitter partisan, had the utmost contempt for everything Northern, but withal a noble and chivalric gentleman.

"In one of the little partisan battles in Missouri," answered Mark, without hesitation.

Another less noted partisan appeared before Castlemaine on Christmas Eve with thirty sword and target men.

He praised the Chancellor for acting as a partisan, though no doubt he was fair enough about prices.

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partispartisanism