Variant: also par · ti · zan
Pronunciation: ' pär-t ə -z ə n, -s ə n, - ˌ zan, chiefly Brit ˌ pär-t ə - ' zan
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French partisan, from north Italian dialect parti ź an, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part
Date: 1555
1 : a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance
2 a : a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy b : a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines
synonyms see FOLLOWER
– partisan adjective
– par · ti · san · ly \ -l ē \ adverb
– par · ti · san · ship \ - ˌ ship \ noun