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partisan

PAR-tih-zan /ˈpɑːrtɪzən/

nounadjectiveC1GRESAT

formalpoliticalmilitary

A strong, often uncritical, supporter of a party, cause, or person; a member of an armed group formed to fight secretly against an occupying force, typically in occupied territory.

In a military context, 'partisan' refers to irregular fighters, often civilians, deeply committed to a cause, fighting behind enemy lines. In a political context, it implies strong bias.

The story behind the word. The word 'partisan' comes from the Italian 'partigiano', which means 'member of a party'. This, in turn, derives from the Latin 'pars', meaning 'part' or 'faction'. So, a partisan is someone who is 'of a part' or 'of a party', indicating strong allegiance to a particular group or cause. This explains both the political meaning (biased supporter) and the military meaning (irregular fighter loyal to a cause).

Word relationships

guerrilla: Similar in military context, but 'partisan' often emphasizes strong political allegiance and fighting within occupied territory.
rebel: General term for someone who resists authority; 'partisan' implies a specific type of irregular fighter or biased supporter.
biased: In a political sense, 'partisan' is a strong form of bias towards a specific group or ideology.

impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally; unbiased.
neutral: Not supporting or helping either side in a conflict.
objective: Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

Commonly confused with

patriot: A 'patriot' loves their country, but isn't necessarily an irregular fighter or biased. A 'partisan' is actively involved in a cause, often militarily or politically biased.

Word family

partisanship (noun): Prejudice in favor of a particular cause; bias.

Collocations

partisan warfare
partisan politics
partisan divide
fiercely partisan

Example sentences

"The partisans launched daring raids against German garrisons, tying up significant enemy resources during the occupation." Describing irregular fighters.
"The debate quickly devolved into partisan bickering, with neither side willing to compromise." Referring to political bias.
"Her reporting was criticized for its partisan slant, clearly favoring one political candidate over the others." As an adjective.

Memory hook

A 'PARTISAN' is part of a 'PARTY' or 'cause', fighting or supporting it strongly. Loyal Fighter/Supporter

When not to use

Do not use 'partisan' to describe someone who is neutral or unbiased. In a military context, it implies irregular, not conventional, fighting.

Fun facts

The term 'partisan' was widely used to describe resistance fighters in many European countries during World War II, particularly in Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.