party

PAR-tee/ˈpɑɹ.ti/PAH-tee/ˈpɑː.ti/

Pluralparties

Verbparties, partying, partied

21 meanings of party

Practice

1
nouncountable
An event where invited people meet to eat, drink, and have fun, often to celebrate something.
Like a get-together where friends come to celebrate and have a good time.
We threw a big party for her birthday.
Everyone danced and laughed at the party.
UsageSay have or throw a party, and go to a party.
Similarcelebration, gathering, get-together
Note
2
noun
An organized group of people with shared political ideas who try to win elections and run the government.
Like a team that anyone can join if they share its goals.
She joined a political party after college.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-FourHere, Party means the political group that runs the government.
UsageUse a capital letter in a name: the Labour Party.
3
side in contractnouncountable
A person or group on one side of a legal case or contract.
Like one of the two sides who sign an agreement.
Each party must sign the rental agreement.
Both parties agreed to settle out of court.
UsageOften both parties or a third party.
Similarside, litigant
Note
4
go out celebratingverbintransitive
To celebrate and have fun with other people.
They love to party on weekends.
We partied all night after the big win.
UsageOften party hard or party all night.
Similarcelebrate, revel, carouse
5
nounhumorouscountable
A person who takes part in something or helps it happen, used with 'to'.
He refused to be a party to such a foolish scheme.
She would not be a party to spreading rumors about her friend.
UsageOften I won't be a party to this.
Similarparticipant, accessory, accomplice
Note
6
nouncountable
A group of people who go somewhere or do a job together, such as a rescue party or raiding party.
The search party looked for the lost hiker.
Our party of six booked a guided tour.
UsageOften a party of four, as at a restaurant.
Similargroup, team, band, squad, company
Note
7
noun
A group of people who take one side in an argument or who join together to support a cause.
Like two teams on opposite sides of a game.
The two parties in the quarrel refused to speak to each other.
Each party in the fight over the new highway hired a lawyer.
Note

Less common meanings

8
game teamnoun
A team of player characters who travel and fight together in a game.
Like a team in a game where everyone works together toward the same goal.
Our party explored the dungeon together.
The whole party leveled up after the boss fight.
Note
9
team up (game)verbintransitive
To join with other players to form a group in a game.
Let's party up before we start the raid.
We partied with two strangers to finish the quest.
UsageSay party up or party with someone.
Similarteam, group
10
person (joking)noundatedhumorouscountable
A person: a playful or somewhat rude way of talking about someone.
That old party at the corner shop always tells the same jokes.
`These young parties have a way of looking at one, sir,' he would say apologetically, `which I don't call respectable.'
1886, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of AdventureHere, parties means people, said in a joking, slightly rude way.
UsageUsually with a describing word: an odd party.
Similarcharacter, individual, person, fellow
Note
11
take drugsverbslangeuphemisticintransitive
To take drugs to have fun, often at social events.
They liked to party with pills and powder at the clubs.
She stopped partying after rehab.
UsageDo you party? can be a hidden question about drugs.
Note
12
casual flingsverbintransitive
To have casual romantic flings rather than settle down.
13
adjective
Strongly supporting one political group instead of others.
Like cheering only for your own team no matter what.
His party loyalty blinded him to good ideas from the other side.
She refused to let party feeling decide her vote.
UsageBefore a noun: party politics.
Similarpartisan
14
animal groupnouncountable
A small group of birds or animals moving together.
A party of monkeys crossed the road.
We watched a party of ducks swim by.
Similarflock, group
Note
15
noundated
A strong sense of loyalty to one's own political group, even above other concerns.
Note
16
nounobsolete
A part or piece of something larger.
And so the moost party of the castel that was falle doune thorugh that dolorous stroke laye vpon Pellam and balyn thre dayes.
1470, Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xv”Here, party means part, so the most part of the castle.
Note
17
nounobsolete
A possible husband or wife, or an offer of marriage.
Note
18
nounobsolete
A decision, agreement, or final choice made between people.
19
adverbobsolete
To some degree, but not fully.
Note
20
shared dividingadjective
Shared between two properties and used to divide them, as in a wall between two houses.
The party wall between the two houses was their shared responsibility.
Now converging, now diverging, these fences presented a striking irregularity of contour. No fence was party, nor any part of any fence.
1953, Samuel Beckett, WattHere, party means shared between two properties and dividing them.
UsageMostly in party wall.
Note
21
adjective
In heraldry, divided into equal parts of different colors, usually along one of the main dividing lines.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of party apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–12, 14–19

It came from Old French "partie" (a side or part), from Latin "partire" meaning "to share or divide." It first appeared around 1300.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

English party derives from Old French partie. fr.wiktionary.org
Old French partie meant a side or part. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin partire, meaning to share or divide. en.wiktionary.org
English party is first attested around 1300. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 13, 20

It came from Old French "parti" ("parted"), from Latin "partitus," the past participle of "partio" meaning "to divide."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Party derives from Old French parti, meaning parted, from Latin partitus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin partitus is the past participle of partio. en.wiktionary.org
Latin partio means to divide. en.wiktionary.org