Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

party1

Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːti/
Translate party | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of party

noun (plural parties)

  • 1a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment:an engagement party
  • 2a formally constituted political group that contests elections and attempts to form or take part in a government:draft the party’s election manifesto
  • a group of people taking part in a particular activity or trip: the visiting party will be asked to conform to safety procedures whilst on site
  • 3a person or people forming one side in an agreement or dispute:a contract between two parties
  • informal a person, especially one with specified characteristics:an old party has been coming in to clean

verb (parties, partying, partied)

[no object] informal
  • enjoy oneself at a party or other lively gathering, typically with drinking and music:put on your glad rags and party!

Phrases

be party (or a party) to

be involved in:he was party to some very shady deals

bring something to the party

see bring.

Derivatives

partier

noun ( informal)

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a body of people united in opposition to others, also in 1sense 2 of the noun): from Old French partie, based on Latin partiri 'divide into parts'. 1sense 1 of the noun dates from the early 18th century

party in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of party in the US English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

logomachy

/ ləˈgɒməki /
noun
an argument about words …