# partisan

/ˈpɑɹtəzən/ (US) · /pˈɑːtɪsən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/partisan
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a strong supporter

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who strongly supports a specific leader, group, or idea.

For teachers: a fervent, sometimes militant, supporter of a party, cause, or person.

- 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.

### 2. a resistance fighter

noun · CEFR B2

a member of an unofficial armed group fighting against an enemy that has occupied their country.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. biased or one-sided

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

showing strong and often unfair support for one particular group or party.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. a historical weapon

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a type of long spear used in the past, often with a wide blade.

For teachers: a long-handled polearm with a broad, double-edged blade, common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

- 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.

## Examples

- He is a lifelong partisan who always votes for his party.
- The news channel was criticized for hiring a known partisan to lead the debate on economic policy.
- In an era of deep political division, even neutral administrative decisions are often viewed through a partisan lens by a skeptical public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.