Definition of partisan Partisan

/pɑˈɹtʌzʌn/ - [partuzun] - par•ti•san

We found 25 definitions of partisan from 7 different sources.

What does partisan mean?

Noun Plural: partisans
partisan - a fervent and even militant proponent of something
		zealot, drumbeater
		advocator, proponent, advocate, exponent a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
		bigot a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own
		doctrinaire, dogmatist a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
partisan - a pike with a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral projections; 16th and 17th centuries
		partizan
partisan - an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity
		enthusiast, partizan
		protagonist, admirer, champion, friend, supporter, booster the principal character in a work of fiction
		addict, freak, junkie, junky, nut someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance; abrupt deprivation of the substance produces withdrawal symptoms
		backslapper someone who demonstrates enthusiastic or excessive cordiality
		balletomane a ballet enthusiast
		fanatic, fiend a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause); "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject"--Winston Churchill
		gadgeteer a person who delights in designing or building or using gadgets
		shutterbug a photography enthusiast
Adjective
partisan - devoted to a cause or party
		partizan
		nonpartisan, nonpartizan free from party affiliation or bias
		party-spirited devoted to a political party

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partisan (Noun)
An adherent to a party or faction.
partisan (Noun)
A fervent, sometimes militant, supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea.
partisan (Noun)
A guerilla fighter; a member of detached light troops acting behind enemy lines.
partisan (Noun)
The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
partisan (Noun)
A spear with a triangular, double-edged blade.
partisan (Noun)
A soldier armed with such a weapon.
partisan (Adjective)
Serving as commander or member of a body of detached light troops: as, a partisan officer or corps.
partisan (Adjective)
Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
partisan (Adjective)
Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause: partisan politics.

partisan (n.)
An adherent to a party or faction; esp., one who is strongly and passionately devoted to a party or an interest.
partisan (n.)
The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy.
partisan (n.)
Any member of such a corps.
partisan (a.)
Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
partisan (a.)
Serving as a partisan in a detached command; as, a partisan officer or corps.
partisan (n.)
A kind of halberd or pike; also, a truncheon; a staff.

partisan
A soldier in a small independent group fighting against the government or regular forces by surprise raids.

partisan
pär′ti-zan, n. an adherent of a party or a faction: one who is too strongly devoted to his own party or sect to be able to understand or to judge fairly of others.—adj. adhering to a party.—n. Par′tisanship. [Fr. (It. partigiano),—L. partīri.]
partisan
pär′ti-zan, n. a kind of halberd or long-handled weapon, common in the Middle Ages: a soldier armed with such a weapon. [O. Fr. pertuisane, which is perh. from Old High Ger. parta a battle-axe, seen in halberd.]

partisan
The name given to small corps detached from the main body of an army, and acting independently against the enemy. In partisan warfare much liberty is allowed to partisans. Continually annoying the flanks and rear of columns, they intercept convoys, cut off communications, attack detachments, and endeavor to spread terror everywhere. This kind of warfare is advantageously pursued only in mountainous or thickly-wooded districts. In an open country, cavalry very readily destroys partisans. The Spanish race make active partisans. The party is called guerrilla, the partisan a guerrillero.
partisan
A term formerly applied to a pike or halbert.