party
A1Neutral. Universally used across all registers, from formal (e.g., political party) to informal (social event).
Definition
Meaning
A social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment.
Any group of people gathered together for a purpose, or formally organized group with shared political aims; also, to take part in a social celebration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun primarily denotes social events or organized groups. The verb usage (to party) is markedly informal, implying energetic celebration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal core difference. In politics, 'the party' can refer to the government/opposition in UK parliamentary context. The verb 'to party' is slightly more informal in UK English.
Connotations
Similar positive connotations for social events. 'Party' as a verb can have a slightly stronger 'excessive' connotation in BrE.
Frequency
The verb is used frequently in both, though AmE may use it more casually ('Let's party!').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[have/throw/give] a party[attend/go to] a partyparty (verb) [all night][be] a [member/supporter] of a partyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Party pooper”
- “Life of the party”
- “Bring a plate (party contribution)”
- “Party line (political)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to one side in a contract or negotiation (third party), or a social work event (office party).
Academic
Used in political science and law (e.g., 'political party', 'interested party').
Everyday
Overwhelmingly used for social celebrations.
Technical
In law/computing, refers to an entity involved in a transaction or lawsuit.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They partied until the early hours.
- Let's not party too hard tonight.
American English
- We're gonna party like it's 1999!
- He partied his way through college.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The party atmosphere was fantastic.
- She wore a bright party dress.
American English
- Put on your party hat!
- The city has a great party scene.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I went to a birthday party.
- The children had a party.
- What time does the party start?
- We're throwing a party for her promotion.
- Which political party do you support?
- The noise from the party next door kept me awake.
- The negotiations broke down because a third party intervened.
- They partied all weekend to celebrate the end of exams.
- He's always the life and soul of the party.
- The contract clearly stipulates the obligations of each party.
- The conference was less an academic symposium and more a networking party for the industry elite.
- She felt duty-bound to toe the party line despite her personal reservations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a PART of the town coming together for a celebration – a PART-Y.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL EVENT IS A CONTAINER (enter/leave the party), POLITICS IS WAR (party lines, party warfare).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'партия' (batch/lot) in non-political contexts.
- Verb 'to party' cannot be directly calqued from noun as in Russian 'тусить' or 'гулять' is used.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'party' as a verb in formal writing (e.g., 'We partied' in a business report).
- Confusing 'party' (group) with 'person' in legal English.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'party' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and suggests lively, often late-night, celebration. Avoid it in formal writing.
'Party' implies a planned celebration for fun. 'Gathering' is more neutral and can be for any purpose (serious or social).
Yes, in formal/legal contexts (e.g., 'the guilty party', 'the injured party') it refers to a person or entity.
These are primarily British. American English uses 'bachelorette party' and 'bachelor party' respectively.