Dictionary
1partisan
noun par·ti·san \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\
Definition of PARTISAN
1
: a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
2
a : a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy b : a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines
— partisan adjective
— par·ti·san·ly \-lē\ adverb
— par·ti·san·ship \-ˌship\ noun
Variants of PARTISAN
par·ti·san also par·ti·zan \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\
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Origin of PARTISAN
Middle French partisan, from north Italian dialect partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part
First Known Use: 1555
Synonym Discussion of PARTISAN
follower, adherent, disciple, partisan mean one who gives full loyalty and support to another. follower may apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another <an evangelist and his followers>. adherent suggests a close and persistent attachment <adherents to Marxism>. disciple implies a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as a master <disciples of Gandhi>. partisan suggests a zealous often prejudiced attachment <partisans of the President>.
Rhymes with PARTISAN
advance man, Alcoran, also-ran, Ameslan, anchorman, as one man, astrakhan, Astrakhan, ataman, Athelstan, attackman, balmacaan, Bantustan, bartizan, black-and-tan, bogeyman, boogeyman, businessman, Caliban, cameraman, caravan, cattleman, Civitan, cornerman, counterman, counterplan, countryman, courtesan, cutoff man, dairyman, defenseman, detail man, everyman, exciseman, expressman, family man, fancy-dan, fancy man, frying pan, funnyman, gamelan, garageman, garbageman, Hamadan, handyman, harmattan, hatchet man, Hindustan, hotelman, in the can, Isle of Man, jerrican, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, leading man, man-for-man, man-to-man, master plan, middleman, minivan, minuteman, Monaghan, moneyman, mountain man, muscleman, Occitan, ombudsman, Omdurman, overman, Pakistan, Parmesan, pattypan, Peking man, Peter Pan, pivotman, plainclothesman, Port Sudan, Powhatan, rather than, repairman, rewrite man, safetyman, sandwich man, selectman, serviceman, signalman, spick-and-span, superman, tallyman, tamarin, to a man, triggerman, trimaran, turbofan, Turkistan, vacuum pan, weatherman, workingman, yataghan
2partisan
noun par·ti·san \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən\
Definition of PARTISAN
: a weapon of the 16th and 17th centuries with long shaft and broad blade
Variants of PARTISAN
par·ti·san or par·ti·zan \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən\
Origin of PARTISAN
Middle French partisane, from north Italian dialect partiźana, feminine of partiźan
First Known Use: 1556
PARTISAN Defined for Kids
partisan
noun par·ti·san \ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən\
Definition of PARTISAN for Kids
: a person who strongly supports something or someone <I'm a partisan of the governor.>
— par·ti·san·ship \-ˌship\ noun
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