Definition

1. Noun:

   • A social gathering for celebration or entertainment: An event where people come together to enjoy themselves, often with food, drinks, and music.
   • A political organization: An organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.
   • A person or group involved in a matter, agreement, or dispute: An individual or collective participant in a legal contract, action, or activity.
   • A group of people doing something together: A small team or band of people assembled for a specific purpose or activity.

2. Verb:

   • To attend or enjoy a social celebration: To participate in a festive social gathering, often involving lively entertainment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Social Gathering): We are hosting a birthday party for my sister. The office holiday party is next Friday.

• Noun (Political Organization): She is a member of the Democratic party. A new political party was formed to address environmental issues.

• Noun (Participant in an agreement): Both parties signed the contract. He refused to be a party to their dishonest plan.

• Noun (Group for an activity): A search party was sent to look for the lost hikers. The fishing party returned with a good catch.

• Verb: After the final exam, the students went out to party. They partied all night to celebrate their graduation.

Advanced Usage

• "To be (a) party to something": To be involved in or privy to an action, agreement, or secret, often with a formal or legal connotation. The company was a party to the merger negotiations. I will not be party to this deception.

• "Third party": A person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation, often in legal, political, or technical contexts. The dispute was settled by a third-party mediator. The software update was provided by a third party.

Variants and Related Words

• Partier/Partygoer (n): A person who attends or enjoys parties frequently. He's a real partier on the weekends.

• Partisan (adj/n): Showing strong, often biased, support for a particular party, cause, or person. As a noun, it means a strong supporter. The debate was filled with partisan rhetoric. She is a fierce partisan of the mayor.

Synonyms

• Noun (Social): Celebration, gathering, festivity, function, soiree.
• Noun (Political): Faction, bloc, coalition.
• Noun (Group): Team, crew, band.
• Verb: Celebrate, revel, socialize.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Party on: To continue partying energetically. (Informal) The concert ended, but we decided to party on at the club.

• Party down: To party enthusiastically. (Informal) They really know how to party down.

Related Idioms

• "The life of the party": A person who is the most lively and entertaining person at a social gathering. With his jokes and stories, John is always the life of the party.

• "Party pooper": A person who refuses to join in the fun or whose behavior dampens the enjoyment of others at a social event. (Informal) Don't be a party pooper—come dance with us!

Noun

1. a person involved in legal proceedings
   • the party of the first part
2. an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment
   • he planned a party to celebrate Bastille Day
3. a band of people associated temporarily in some activity
   • they organized a party to search for food
   • the company of cooks walked into the kitchen
4. a group of people gathered together for pleasure
   • she joined the party after dinner
5. an organization to gain political power
   • in 1992 Perot tried to organize a third party at the national level

Verb

1. have or participate in a party
   • The students were partying all night before the exam