ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dup

n. countable
C1 Advanced dup

n. Stands for Democratic Unionist Party. A major political group in Northern Ireland that wants to keep the country as part of the United Kingdom.

n. Abbreviation for Democratic Unionist Party. A right-wing, unionist political party in Northern Ireland, characterised by its commitment to maintaining the constitutional union with Great Britain.


SIMPLE

The DUP won several seats in the last election.

CONTEXTUAL

The DUP played a critical role in Westminster during the Brexit negotiations, providing support to the minority government.

COMPLEX

As the largest unionist party for several decades, the DUP has significantly influenced the political landscape of Northern Ireland through its staunch opposition to Irish reunification.

Origin

From Middle English don up (“to open”), equivalent to a blend of do + up. Compare don, doff, dout, dub.

Usage

Usually preceded by the definite article 'the' when referring to the party as a whole.

© 2026 English Reference