partisan — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An adherent to a party or faction.

   Synonyms

   partyman

   Examples

   "Strong partisans of neither party, Indiana farmers failed to act as a block […]"

2. A fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.

3. A member of a band of detached light, irregular troops acting behind occupying enemy lines in the ways of harassment or sabotage; a guerrilla fighter.

4. The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.

   Usage

   • Archaic

Adjective

1. Serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops.

   Examples

   partisan officer, partisan corps

2. Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party.

   Examples

   They were blinded by partisan zeal.

   More examples (1)

   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.

3. Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause.

   Examples

   partisan politics

   More examples (2)

   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.

   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.

Noun

1. A long-handled spear with a triangular, double-edged blade having lateral projections, in some forms also used in boar hunting.

   Usage

   • Historical

   Examples

   I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

   Salisbury and his attendants were also now drawing near, with bills and partisans brandished, and bows already bended.

2. A soldier armed with such a weapon.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

Adjective

1. devoted to a cause or party

   Synonyms

   partizan

   Antonyms

   nonpartisan

Noun

1. a fervent and even militant proponent of something

   Synonyms

   zealotdrumbeater

   Antonyms

   nonpartisan

   Broader terms

   advocateadvocatorproponentexponent

2. an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity

   Synonyms

   enthusiastpartizan

   Broader terms

   supporterprotagonistchampionadmirerboosterfriend

3. a pike with a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral projections; 16th and 17th centuries

   Synonyms

   partizan

   Broader terms

   pike