Definition of PARTISAN

partisan

Meanings

Plural: partisans

Noun

  • a fervent and even militant proponent of something
  • an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
  • a pike with a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral projections; 16th and 17th centuries
  • An adherent to a party or faction.
  • A fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
  • 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.
  • The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
  • A long-handled spear with a triangular, double-edged blade having lateral projections, in some forms also used in boar hunting.
  • A soldier armed with such a weapon.

Adjective

  • devoted to a cause or party

Adj

  • Serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops.
  • Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party.
  • Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause.

Origin / Etymology

From French partisan, from Italian partigiano (“defender of a party”), from parte (“part”). Doublet of partigiano. Attested in English from the late 15th century in the noun sense of "party adherent", and in related adjective senses from the 16th century. The "guerrilla fighter" sense influenced by Serbo-Croatian partizan, Russian партиза́н (partizán), from the same source.
The sense of "guerrilla fighter" is from c. 1690.
The adjective in the military sense dates from the early 18th century.

Antonyms

nonpartisan

Scrabble Score: 10

partisan is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
partisan is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
partisan is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

partisan is a valid Words With Friends word