partner

Etymology

From Middle English partener, partiner, alteration (due to Middle English part) of Middle English parcener, from Old French parçonier, parçonneour (“joint heir”) from parçon (“partition”), from Latin partītiōnem, singular accusative of partītiō (“portion”). The word may also represent Old French part tenour (“part holder”). Compare also Middle English partifere (“partner”), partifelewe (“partner”). Doublet of parcener.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑːtnə(ɹ)/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑɹtnɚ/, [ˈpɑɹʔnɚ]
• (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈpɐːtnə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: part‧ner

Noun

partner (plural partners)

1. Either of a pair of people or things that belong together.
2. Someone who is associated with another in a common activity or interest.

   business partner

   dance partner

   doubles partner

   speaking partner

   sex partner

   1. A member of a business or law partnership.
      • 1668 July 3, James Dalrymple, “Thomas Rue contra Andrew Houſtoun” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 548:

        He Suſpends on theſe Reaſons, that Thomas Rue had granted a general Diſcharge to Adam Muſhet, who was his Conjunct, and correus debendi, after the alleadged Service, which Diſcharged Muſhet, and conſequently Houstoun his Partner.

   2. A spouse or other person with whom one shares a domestic, romantic or sexual bond.
      • 2023 April 23, Amelia Gentleman, “CPS includes ‘love-bombing’ in guidance on abusive partners prosecution”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

        New guidance on how to prosecute abusive partners for controlling and coercive behaviour has highlighted the phenomenon of love-bombing, a tactic used by suspects to confuse victims and gain more control.

   3. Someone with whom one dances in a two-person dance.
      • 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter I, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC:

        He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. […] But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […].

   4. Someone with whom one plays on the same side in a game, such as card games or doubles tennis.
3. (nautical) One of the pieces of wood comprising the framework which strengthens the deck of a wooden ship around the holes through which the mast and other fittings pass.
4. (Jamaica) A group financial arrangement in which each member contributes a set amount of money over a set period.

Verb

partner (third-person singular simple present partners, present participle partnering, simple past and past participle partnered)

1. (transitive) To join as a partner.
2. (intransitive, often with with) To work or perform as a partner.
   • 2020 October 6, Belinda Luscombe, “Would You Date Someone With Different Political Beliefs? Here's What a Survey of 5,000 Single People Revealed”, in Time‎:

     “In the current period, when people are embedded in social and informational bubbles with like-minded friends and relatives,” he says, “the idea of partnering with someone from a different bubble is understandably daunting. At a minimum it’s awkward and complicated.”

   • 2022 January 12, “Network News: New freight trips for Tesco and DRS”, in RAIL, number 948, page 12:

     Tesco has partnered with Direct Rail Services (DRS) to launch a new refrigerated rail freight service from Tilbury to Coatbridge.

References

• “partner”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

• Parrent

Etymology

Borrowed from English partner.

Noun

partner m (plural partnerë, definite partneri, definite plural partnerët)

1. partner

Etymology

Borrowed from English partner.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpartnɛr]

Noun

partner m anim (female equivalent partnerka)

1. partner

Further reading

• “partner”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “partner”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “partner”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025

Etymology

From English partner.

Noun

partner c (singular definite partneren, plural indefinite partnere)

1. partner

References

• “partner” in Den Danske Ordbog

Etymology

Borrowed from English partner.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɑrt.nər/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: part‧ner

Noun

partner m (plural partners, diminutive partnertje n)

1. partner, love interest, romantic and/or sexual companion

   Mijn partner en ik zijn al tien jaar samen. ― My partner and I have been together for ten years.

   Ze zocht naar een geschikte partner om mee te settelen. ― She was looking for a suitable love interest to settle down with.

2. partner, companion (someone whom one engages in business)

   Synonyms: deelgenoot, genoot, vennoot, maat, compagnon, zakenpartner

   In zaken is het belangrijk om een betrouwbare partner te hebben. ― In business, it's important to have a reliable partner.

   Hij werd mijn partnertje in ons kleine startup-avontuur. ― He became my little business companion in our small startup adventure.

Noun

partner m or f by sense (plural partners)

1. (obsolete, except for in Quebec) partner

Further reading

• “partner”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.