party
a social gathering, as of invited guests at a private home, for conversation, refreshments, entertainment, etc.: a cocktail party.
a group gathered for a special purpose or task: a fishing party; a search party.
a detachment, squad, or detail of troops assigned to perform some particular mission or service.
a group of persons with common purposes or opinions who support one side of a dispute, question, debate, etc.
a group of persons with common political opinions and purposes organized for gaining political influence and governmental control and for directing government policy: the Republican Party; the Democratic Party.
the system of taking sides on public or political questions or the like.
attachment or devotion to one side or faction; partisanship: to put considerations of party first.
Law.
one of the litigants in a legal proceeding; a plaintiff or defendant in a suit.
a signatory to a legal instrument.
a person participating in or otherwise privy to a crime.
a person or group that participates in some action, affair, plan, etc.; participant: He was a party to the merger deal.
the person under consideration; a specific individual: The package was delivered to the wrong party.
a person or, usually, two or more persons together patronizing a restaurant, attending a social or cultural function, etc.: The headwaiter asked how many were in our party; a party of 12 French physicists touring the labs; a party of one at the small table.
a person participating in a telephone conversation: I have your party on the line.
any occasion or activity likened to a social party, as specified; session: The couple in the next apartment are having their usual dish-throwing party.
something lively, stimulating, or bustling: It’s so delicious, it’s like a party in your mouth.That plastic water bottle is a germ party.
an advantageous or pleasurable situation or combination of circumstances of some duration and often of questionable character; period of content, license, exemption, etc.: The police broke in and suddenly the party was over for the nation's most notorious gunman.
of or relating to a party or faction; partisan: party leaders.
of or for a social gathering: her new party dress.
being shared by or pertaining to two or more persons or things.
Heraldry. (of an escutcheon) having the field divided into a number of parts, usually two; parted.
to go to or give parties, especially a series of parties.
to enjoy oneself thoroughly and without restraint; indulge in pleasure.
Origin of party
1synonym study For party
usage note For party
word story For party
Since the 1300s, party has taken on a number of useful meanings, including “any of the people engaged in a formal legal proceeding,” which dates from the early 14th century. First noted in the 17th century is the sense of “an organized political group or faction” ( the Party, short for "the Communist Party," would show up around 1919). Also dating from the 17th century is the term party wall, “a wall that forms a boundary between areas with different owners,” while the familiar “festive social gathering” sense of party can be traced back to the early 18th century. In the next century, party line emerged (during the 1830s) as a political term meaning “a policy or principle to be maintained,” and later (from the early 1890s) was more commonly used in the now obsolete sense of “a telephone line shared by several subscribers.”
Other words for party
Other words from party
- par·ty·less, adjective
- in·ter·par·ty, adjective
- non·par·ty, adjective, noun, plural non·par·ties.
- sub·par·ty, noun, plural sub·par·ties.
Words that may be confused with party
- party , person (see usage note at the current entry)
Words Nearby party
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use party in a sentence
The new sleep tracking app appears less sophisticated than similar apps offered by third parties, but I’ll need to test it further.
Apple Watch Series 6 first impressions: A stretchy addition looks great | Aaron Pressman | September 17, 2020 | FortuneJust because Obama says it doesn’t mean the rest of the party will agree.
Among the most significant differences between the two parties are on perceptions of American exceptionalism.
Poll: Sharp partisan differences now exist on foreign policy, views of American exceptionalism | Dan Balz, Scott Clement | September 17, 2020 | Washington Post“Contextual has evolved and with the absence of the third-party cookie it’s all the more significant,” said Simone.
‘Re-architecting the entire process’: How Vice is preparing for life after the third-party cookie | Lara O'Reilly | September 17, 2020 | DigidayThat compares with the Democrats’ two-point party identification edge in 2016 exit polling and their eight-point advantage in 2012 exit polling.
Post-ABC poll and others suggest Minnesota has shifted since 2016, but by how much? | Scott Clement, Dan Balz | September 16, 2020 | Washington Post
Neither the Republican nor the Democratic party have done anything to consistently target Asian- American voters.
Although the NFL party animal loves flaunting his washboard abs, he seems more fratboy than Fabio.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTEva Silverman, who co-hosts an Oakland Dinner party, agrees.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone | Samantha Levine | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThose who come to the Dinner party are self-selecting; they do want to talk about it.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone | Samantha Levine | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTalking about death is never easy, but with food, comfort, and familiarity, a new kind of dinner party is making it easier.
Everyone at This Dinner Party Has Lost Someone | Samantha Levine | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWalls End Castle, when the party broke up, returned to its normal state.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsTo give him a party name, he became an anti-clerical, strictly in a political and lawful sense.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanNative women were not interfered with by either party, nor were the foreigners, many of whom took refuge at the British Consulate.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanNo one was hurt, although the shot was evidently intended for my party.
Ascension being a holiday here, all we pianists made up a walking party out to Tiefurt, about two miles distant.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
British Dictionary definitions for party
/ (ˈpɑːtɪ) /
a social gathering for pleasure, often held as a celebration
(as modifier): party spirit
(in combination): partygoer
a group of people associated in some activity: a rescue party
(often capital) a group of people organized together to further a common political aim, such as the election of its candidates to public office
(as modifier): party politics
the practice of taking sides on public issues
a person, esp one who participates in some activity such as entering into a contract
the person or persons taking part in legal proceedings, such as plaintiff or prosecutor: a party to the action
informal, jocular a person: he's an odd old party
come to the party to take part or become involved
informal to celebrate; revel
heraldry (of a shield) divided vertically into two colours, metals, or furs
Origin of party
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with party
In addition to the idioms beginning with party
- party line
also see:
- life of the party
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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