Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » party

party

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a party is a gathering of people to have a good time or celebrate an occasion, or a group who do things together or a group of people who share the same political ideals.

(noun)

An example of a party is a gathering to celebrate a graduation.
An example of a party is a group of four who go out to a restaurant together.
An example of a party is the Republicans or the Democrats.

To party is to enjoy yourself and have a good time, especially at a social event.

(verb)

An example of party is when you go out to a bar with all of your friends and have a great time.

See party in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. parties

a group of people working together to establish or promote particular theories or principles of government which they hold in common; esp., an organized political group which seeks to elect its candidates to office and thus to direct government policies
any group of persons acting together; specif.,
1. a group sent out on a task or mission: a surveying party
2. a group meeting together socially to accomplish a task: a quilting party
3. a group assembled for amusement or recreation: a fishing party
a gathering for social entertainment, or the entertainment itself, often of a specific nature: a birthday party, cocktail party
a person who participates or is concerned in an action, proceeding, plan, etc.: often with to: to be a party to a conspiracy
either of the persons or sides concerned in a legal matter
Informal a person: the party who telephoned

Origin: ME partie < OFr < partir, to divide < L partiri < pars, part

adjective

of or having to do with a political party: a party leader
for a social gathering: party clothes

intransitive verb partied, partying

☆ to attend or hold social parties
Informal to take part in social activity, as at a party, in an unrestrained, often boisterous manner, usually while drinking alcoholic beverages, taking drugs, etc.

Related Forms:

partyer noun

See party in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. par·ties

a. A social gathering especially for pleasure or amusement: a cocktail party.
b. A group of people who have gathered to participate in an activity. See Synonyms at band².
An established political group organized to promote and support its principles and candidates for public office.
a. A person or group involved in an enterprise; a participant or an accessory: I refuse to be a party to your silly scheme.
b. Law A person or group involved in a legal proceeding as a litigant.
a. A subscriber to a telephone party line.
b. A person using a telephone.
A person: “And though Grainger was a spry old party, such steps couldn't be his” (Anthony Hyde).
A selected group of soldiers: a raiding party.
Slang
a. An act of sexual intercourse.
b. An orgy.

adjective

Of, relating to, or participating in an established political organization: party members; party politics.
Suitable for use at a social gathering: party dresses; a party hat.
Characteristic of a pleasurable social gathering: a party atmosphere.

intransitive verb par·tied, par·ty·ing, par·ties

To celebrate or carouse at or as if at a party: That night we partied until dawn.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English partie, part, side, group

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from feminine past participle of partir, to divide

Origin: , from Latin partīre

Origin: , from pars, part-, part; see part

Related Forms:

parˈty·er, parˈti·er noun

Usage Note: Party is unexceptionable when used to refer to a participant in a social arrangement, as in She was not named as a party in the conspiracy. It is this sense that underlies the legal use of the term, as when one speaks of the parties to a contract. The legal use has in turn led to the presence of the word in many fixed expressions, such as injured party and third party. But party is also widely used as a general substitute for person, as in Would all parties who left packages at the desk please reclaim them. This usage has been established for many centuries, but in the Victorian era it came to be associated with the language of the semieducated and it has been the subject of many later criticisms. This use of party may have been reinforced in the 20th century by its adoption by telephone operators. In other contexts, when used in earnest, it may be perceived as a superfluous variant for person. But the jocular use of the term is well established, particularly in references such as a wise old party.

Learn more about party

party synonyms

party legal definition

party phrase meanings

party in a sentence

party quotes

party images