Word
partisan
Phoneticspar·ti·san, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɑɹtəzən/
UK/pˈɑːtɪsən/
Definitions
01a strong supporter
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a person who strongly supports a specific leader, group, or idea.
n. a fervent, sometimes militant, supporter of a party, cause, or person.
Español:partidario
“He was a lifelong partisan of the local environmental movement.”
“Even within the committee, he remained a staunch partisan of the original proposal, refusing to entertain any amendments that might weaken its impact.”
02a resistance fighter
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a member of an unofficial armed group fighting against an enemy that has occupied their country.
n. a member of an irregular military force operating behind enemy lines to harass or sabotage an occupying power.
“The partisans hid in the mountains and attacked the enemy supply trucks at night.”
“During the occupation, local partisans coordinated with the allied forces to disrupt the enemy's communication networks through a series of calculated midnight raids.”
Synonyms
03biased or one-sided
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. showing strong and often unfair support for one particular group or party.
adj. strongly biased in favour of a particular party, cause, or faction; often implies an inability to be objective.
“The newspaper was criticized for its partisan reporting during the election.”
“The debate was marred by partisan bickering, which prevented the council from reaching a consensus on the urgent infrastructure budget.”
Synonyms
04a historical weapon
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Technical
n. a type of long spear used in the past, often with a wide blade.
n. a long-handled polearm with a broad, double-edged blade, common in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Español:partesana
“The museum display showed a knight holding a heavy steel partisan.”
“The ceremonial guard carried ornate partisans, their blades engraved with the royal crest to signify their status as protectors of the palace.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The attacks were relentless , often partisan, and amplified without respite online.” “It means that the local officials and clerks who count our votes are members of our communities, not appointees chosen by partisans in state capitals or Washington, D.C.” 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.
From French partizaine, from Middle French partizaine, partisanne etc., from Italian partigiana, related to Etymology 1 above (apparently because it was seen as a typical weapon of such forces).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/partisan
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0