tea party

noun

1

: an afternoon social gathering at which tea is served

2

[from the Boston Tea Party, name applied to the occasion in 1773 when a shipment of tea was thrown into Boston harbor in protest against the tax on imports] : an exciting disturbance or proceeding

3

usually Tea Party : a 21st century U.S. political movement in favor of lower taxes, fewer government regulations and programs, strict immigration control, and a strong military

"Tea Party" has become something of a catch-all term to describe an impassioned and empowered group of populist conservatives. They are largely antigovernment, a lot of them are self-described libertarians, and many say they are new to political activism. It is easy to think of them as a singular entity and a growing one.

—Mark Leibovich

Conservative activists started holding "Tea Party" protests in 2009 to vent outrage over federal stimulus spending, the Wall Street bailout and rising national debt. The movement quickly had an electoral impact, culminating in the 2010 midterm elections when the GOP captured the House.

—Martha T. Moore

Examples of tea party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other ideas include: Transforming your space into something magical with balloon arches Setting up tents for a cozy sleep space Stringing some fairy lights for atmosphere Doing a special table setting like a tea party, or something that matches your theme Don’t Forget About the Food! —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Mar. 2025

Massie later came up with a theory of how the tea party powered both libertarian and more government-friendly national conservatives, including Trump. —W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Mar. 2025

In the second episode, the mother of two teamed up with Mindy Kaling to create a kids' garden tea party. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025

The pair later headed into the backyard for a garden tea party. —Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tea party

• astarte
• mccarty
• nonparty
• arty
• carty
• hearty
• parti
• counterparty
• multiparty