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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Anglo-French |
| Origin: | parcener 'heir sharing half', from Old French parçon 'share'; influenced by part |
1 one of two people who are married, or who live together and have a sexual relationship [↪ husband, wife]: 
Discuss your worries with your partner.a sexual partner
marriage etc
Discuss your worries with your partner.a sexual partner3 someone you do a particular activity with, for example dancing or playing a game against two other people : Clare's my tennis partner.
dancing/games etc
Clare's my tennis partner.4 a country or organization that another country or organization has an agreement with :
country/organization
PGPPG5 two people who have planned and done something together, especially something that slightly annoys other people - used humorously
partners in crime
➔ sparring partnerWORD FOCUS: married 
WORD FOCUS: married
single not married
divorced if you are divorced, you have officially ended your marriage to someone
engaged if you are engaged to be married, you have formally agreed to marry someone in the future
widowed if you are widowed, your husband or wife has died
be living together to be living as a couple in the same house without being married
spouse formal the person you are married to
partner your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend
marital status whether you are single or married - used on official forms
➔ See also married
WORD FOCUS: married single not married
divorced if you are divorced, you have officially ended your marriage to someone
engaged if you are engaged to be married, you have formally agreed to marry someone in the future
widowed if you are widowed, your husband or wife has died
be living together to be living as a couple in the same house without being married
spouse formal the person you are married to
partner your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend
marital status whether you are single or married - used on official forms
➔ See also married
