party1

Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːti/

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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

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a body of people united in opposition to others, also in party¹ (sense 2 of the noun)): from Old French partie, based on Latin partiri 'divide into parts'. party¹ (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the early 18th century

party in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of party in the US English dictionary

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Other

party1

noun (plural parties)

verb (parties, partying, partied)

Phrases

be party (or a party) to

bring something to the party

Derivatives

partier

Origin:

party in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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