View synonyms for partisan

partisan

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

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.:
partisan politics.
Synonyms: prejudiced, biased
of, relating to, or carried on by military partisans or guerrillas.

partisan

[ pahr-tuh-zuhn, -suhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

/ ˈpɑːtɪˌzæn; ˌpɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

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

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

partisan

/ ˈpɑːtɪzən /

noun

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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