party

1 of 2

noun

par·​ty ˈpär-tē 

plural parties

1

: a person or group taking one side of a question, dispute, or contest

The parties in the lawsuit reached an agreement.

2

: a group of persons organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government

political parties with opposing agendas

3

: a person or group participating in an action or affair

a mountain-climbing party

a party to the transaction

4

: a particular individual : person

an old party approaching 80

5

: a detail of soldiers

The infantry repulsed a landing party from the ship.

6

: a social gathering

a dinner party

a birthday party

also : the entertainment provided for it

party adjective

party

2 of 2

verb

partied; partying

intransitive verb

: to attend or give parties

broadly : revel sense 1

partyer noun

or less commonly partier

ˈpär-tē-ər 

Synonyms

Noun

• affair
• bash
• binge
• blast
• blowout
• do
• event
• fete
• fête
• function
• get-together
• reception
• shindig

Examples of party in a Sentence

Noun

We are having a party.

a high school dance party

Were you invited to her party?

Our New Year's Eve party was a huge success.

political parties with opposing agendas

The senator is loyal to his party.

the two parties in the marriage contract

The parties in the lawsuit reached a settlement.

Verb

He spent the weekend partying with his friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Well, Trump hijacked a corporate party, which hardly seemed like a vehicle for proletarian revolt, and did exactly that. —David Brooks, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Chinese officials saw neither Trump nor his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as especially appealing at a time when taking a hard line on China is just about the only issue their two parties can agree on. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

Verb

The pair — along with some other starlets — would often be photographed while out partying together. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024

In voiceover, Ai fondly recalls her own uncles and aunts sneaking out to clubs at night, partying all weekend, clashing with their elders and the more puritanical past generations stunned by the appropriation of sexier dress, style, and musical verve. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English partie part, party, from Anglo-French, from partir to divide — more at part

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing party

• after-party
• anti-party
• bachelorette party
• bachelor party
• block party
• bridal party
• cocktail party
• dinner party
• drinks party
• frat party
• garden party
• guilty party
• hen party
• house party
• inter-party
• lawn party
• major party
• minor party
• pajama party
• party animal
• party boss
• party favor
• party girl
• party line
• party loyalist
• party monster
• party politics
• party pooper
• party wall
• raiding party
• search party
• slumber party
• stag party
• surprise party
• tailgate party
• tea party
• the life and soul of the party
• the life of the party
• third party
• two-party
• vote along party lines
• war party
• wedding party
• working party

Kids Definition

party

1 of 2 noun

par·​ty ˈpärt-ē 

plural parties

1

: one side in a dispute or contest

the parties to a lawsuit

2

: a group of persons organized to influence or direct the policies of a government

3

: a person or group that takes part with others in an action or affair

a mountain-climbing party

4

: a particular individual : person

get the right party on the telephone

5

: a detail of soldiers

6

: a social gathering

also : entertainment for such a gathering

party adjective

party

2 of 2 verb

partied; partying

: to give or attend parties

Legal Definition

party

noun

par·​ty

plural parties

1

a

: one (as a person, group, or entity) constituting alone or with others one of the sides of a proceeding, transaction, or agreement

the parties to a contract

a person who signed the instrument as a party to the instrument

—Uniform Commercial Code

— accommodated party

: a party to an instrument for whose benefit an accommodation party signs and incurs liability on the instrument : a party for whose benefit an accommodation is made

— accommodation party

: a party who signs and thereby incurs liability on an instrument that is issued for value and given for the benefit of an accommodated party

— secured party

: a party holding a security interest in another's property

— third party

: a person other than the principals

insurance against injury to a third party

b

: one (as an individual, firm, or corporation) that constitutes the plaintiff or defendant in an action

also : one so involved in the prosecution or defense of a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding as to be bound or substantially affected by the decision or judgment therein

— adverse party

: a party to an action who is on the opposing side

specifically : a party to a finally decided action whose interests would be served by having the judgment upheld on appeal and who is entitled to notice of an appeal

— aggrieved party

: a party with a legally recognized interest that is injuriously affected especially by an act of a judicial or quasi-judicial body and that confers standing to appeal

called also aggrieved person, party aggrieved

— indispensable party

: a party whose rights are so connected with the claims being litigated in an action that no judgment can be rendered without affecting or impairing those rights, no complete disposition of the action can be made without the party's joinder, and whose nonjoinder will result in the dismissal of an action compare necessary party in this entry

Note: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 provides the courts with discretion in determining whether the absence of a party requires dismissal of an action, replacing an older and more rigid basis for determination. The rule states that “the court must determine whether, in equity and good conscience, the action should proceed among the existing parties or should be dismissed.”

— innocent party

: a party having no fault in or responsibility for the situation for which judicial relief is sought : a party who comes into court with clean hands

— necessary party

: a party whose interests are so connected with an action that he or she should be joined in order to fully determine the controversy but whose nonjoinder because of a valid excuse will not result in dismissal compare indispensable party in this entry

— nominal party

: a party who has no actual stake in the outcome of litigation and whose inclusion as a party is solely for the purpose of conforming with procedural rules

— party aggrieved

: aggrieved party in this entry

— party in interest

: a person whose rights are or will be affected by an action taken especially by a government or judicial body

especially : a person whose pecuniary interests are affected by a bankruptcy proceeding

: real party in interest in this entry

— proper party

: a party whose interests are likely to be affected by litigation and whose inclusion in the litigation is preferable but not essential

— real party in interest

: a party who according to the applicable law is entitled to enforce the right that forms the basis of the claim regardless of who will actually benefit by the outcome

Note: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(a) requires that “an action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.”

— third party

: a person who is not a party to an action but who is or may be liable to the defendant in the action for all or part of the plaintiff's claim and against whom the defendant may bring a third-party complaint

: a person who is not a party to an action but who is or may be liable to the plaintiff in the action for all or part of a counterclaim and against whom the plaintiff may bring a third-party complaint see also third-party complaint

2

: a group of persons usually sharing a set of political ideals who are organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government