From Middle English party, partye, partie, from Anglo-Norman partie, from Old French partie (“side, part; portion, share; separation, division”, literally “that which is divided”), noun use of feminine of past participle of Old French partir (“to divide, separate”), from Latin partire (“to share, part, distribute, divide”), from pars (“a part, piece, a share”); see also part. First attested in c. 1300. Doublet of partita. The sense of communist party of a communist state derives Russian партия (partija), short for Коммунистическая партия (Kommunističeskaja partija). By surface analysis, part + -y (“noun suffix”).
Law A person or group of people constituting one side in a legal proceeding, such as in a legal action or a contract.
The contract requires that the party of the first part pay the fee.
if the Jury had found that the party slain had been of English race and nation, it had been adjudged felony1612, Sir John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued:
`These young parties have a way of looking at one, sir,' he would say apologetically, `which I don't call respectable.'1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
3
Dated, Humorous, Slang, Vulgar With to: someone who takes part in an action or affair; an accessory.
I can't possibly be (a) party to that kind of reckless behaviour.
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Archaic, Broadly A group of people forming one side in a given dispute, contest, etc., or united in maintaining a cause, policy, or opinion in opposition to others; a faction.
A mile back in the forest the tribe had heard the fierce challenge of the gorilla, and, as was his custom when any danger threatened, Kerchak called his people together, partly for mutual protection against a common enemy, since this gorilla might be but one of a party of several, and also to see that all members of the tribe were accounted for.1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 6, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
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Government, PoliticsArchaic, Broadly A political group considered as a formal whole, usually organized on a national basis, which contests elections and aims to form or take part in a government; a political party.
The green party took 12% of the vote.
His party was campaigning successfuly.
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"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day.[…]A strong man—a strong one; and a heedless." ¶ "Of what party is he?" she inquired, as though casually.1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
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-Four, page 103:
In the freer political atmosphere before the 1989 repression, peasant protests against the Party in Henan were sometimes openly discussed. A transcript of a meeting between peasants and cadres in Jili district near Luoyang published in the Peasants’ Daily recorded some vivid complaints.1996, John Gittings, “Peasants in Revolt”, in Real China: From Cannibalism to Karaoke, Pocket Books, published 1997, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 46:
The RNC entered June with about $72.4 million in cash reserves, nearly five times the $15 million stockpiled by the DNC, as the two parties gear up for gubernatorial races this fall and next year’s costly midterm elections for Congress. […] The party’s cash crunch is serious enough that party officials have weighed seeking a line of credit to help it stay afloat, a development first reported by The New York Times.2025 June 21, Fredreka Schouten and Arit John, “The DNC’s cash crunch deepens as new filings show Republicans with a huge advantage”, in CNN:
› A group of people forming one side in a… › A political group considered as a formal…
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Government, PoliticsArchaic, Broadly, With the and capital initial The Communist Party, especially as the sole political party of a communist state.
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Government, PoliticsArchaic, Broadly, Dated The feeling of solidarity with and support for one's political party; partisanship, especially in political matters.
The settlers were attacked early next morning by a scouting party.
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A group of people gathered together, especially temporarily, for a specific purpose such as travel or sport.
We're expecting a large party from the London office.
Do you have a table available for a party of four?
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We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 63:
[…] the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street.1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XV, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, pages 163–164:
When the line was being surveyed in 1880, the survey party, proceeding along the course of Stock Creek, reached a natural amphitheatre with a rock wall 200 ft. high, in the face of which there was an arched tunnel entrance, [...] into which the stream passed.1944 May and June, “Nature Provides a Railway Tunnel”, in Railway Magazine, page 132:
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A social gathering, usually of invited guests, which typically involves eating, drinking, and entertainment and often held to celebrate a particular occasion.
I'm throwing a huge party for my 21st birthday.
So-So, tonight, tonight, let’s look at where that time actually goes, and let’s begin with the most obvious form of fundraising: fundraisers. These are usually shitty parties in D.C. bars, restaurants, or townhouses, and there are a lot of them! The Sunlight Foundation estimates that, in the last election cycle, members of Congress held over 28 hundred fundraisers! Washington is like Rod Stewart’s haircut: party in the front, party in the back, frankly too much party and no business anywhere to be found!2016 April 3, “Congressional Fundraising”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 7, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:
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You know I’d leave any party for you / 'Cause no party’s so sweet as a party of two2017, “Any Party”, in Pleasure, performed by Feist:
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A gathering of acquaintances so that one of them may offer items for sale to the rest of them.
Tupperware party
lingerie party
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A small group of birds or mammals.
Small parties of cattle were seen browsing in places where they must with with difficulty have kept their footing[.]1830 March 5, The Australian, Sydney, page 3, column 3:
A party of mynas, consisting of several males and females, once selected the top of a low terraced roof, just below my verandah, as a site for courting and quarrelling.1903, D.D. Cunningham, Some Indian Friends and Acquaintances, London: John Murray, page 28:
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Small parties and flocks close to breeding sites commonly give shrill, high-pitched, trilling screams.2009, Mark Brazil, The Birds of East Asia, London: Christopher Helm, page 272:
And so the moost party of the castel that was falle doune thorugh that dolorous stroke laye vpon Pellam and balyn thre dayes.1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xv”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book II, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:
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Obsolete A prospective partner or an offer of marriage.
From Middle English party, partye, partie, from Anglo-Norman partie, from Old French partie (“side, part; portion, share; separation, division”, literally “that which is divided”), noun use of feminine of past participle of Old French partir (“to divide, separate”), from Latin partire (“to share, part, distribute, divide”), from pars (“a part, piece, a share”); see also part. First attested in c. 1300. Doublet of partita. The sense of communist party of a communist state derives Russian партия (partija), short for Коммунистическая партия (Kommunističeskaja partija). By surface analysis, part + -y (“noun suffix”).
1
To celebrate at a party, to have fun, to enjoy oneself.
“Miss, do you party?” the boy asked. “What?” Jennifer asked back. “Do you smoke? I'll get you some cheap. One American dollar equals forty Jamaican dollars. I'll get you as much of the stuff as you need.”2004, Daniel Nicholas Shields, Firewoman:
3
To engage in flings, to have one-night stands, to sow one's wild oats.
From Middle English party, partye, partie, from Anglo-Norman partie, from Old French partie (“side, part; portion, share; separation, division”, literally “that which is divided”), noun use of feminine of past participle of Old French partir (“to divide, separate”), from Latin partire (“to share, part, distribute, divide”), from pars (“a part, piece, a share”); see also part. First attested in c. 1300. Doublet of partita. The sense of communist party of a communist state derives Russian партия (partija), short for Коммунистическая партия (Kommunističeskaja partija). By surface analysis, part + -y (“noun suffix”).
Etymology From Middle English party, from Old French parti (“parted”), from Latin partītus (“parted”), past participle of partiō (“to divide”). More at part.
Obsolete, Rare, Of a fence or wall Shared by two properties and serving to divide them.
Except in compounds
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, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC: