Guys I just learned something crazy

To add another (similar) use, 'party' is often used to refer to a small group who work together - for example, in an RPG you usually call your set of ally characters your 'party', sometimes specifically called an 'adventuring party'.

In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, Party finds you.

You might need this! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/68872125-the-communist-party-original#357P68872125D1V

oh totally! there's lots of kids shows that make jokes about this as well

The Republican Party hosted a fund-raising halloween party, but reservations were limited to parties of five or fewer.

Interestingly, it’s roots would be more in line with a party of people. As in, those united (in ideology) against others. Wonder where the more modern usage of party came from?

Sorry to ruin your black panther party

“Party on, Garth!”

A “search party” is also a lot less fun than it sounds.

Fun fact: there was once a [political party of beer lovers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Beer-Lovers%27_Party). They then split into 2 parties: Large Beer and Small Beer. Politics and partying sometimes come hand in hand xD

> group of politics I think you meant to say group of politicians? Politics is the activity, politicians are the people who do politics.

It's also possible to "be party to" things. If someone is planning a surprise of some kind and gets you involved with it, you would now be party to that surprise. This means that if someone wants to put together a spontaneous celebration for the communists they know, and they ask you to be a part of it, you can become party to the surprise party for the communist party.

I thought the Boston tea party was a bunch of folks drinking tea together at a “party”

I know what you mean!

Wait till you hear about the Donner party.

I just remembered another meaning - **party line,** a shared telephone connection. (It could be another instance of *inter partes,* the old Roman law term meaning including both sides/all participants). The Kinks have a song about it! https://youtu.be/AhblfjqfF4c?si=3lvKy4BwdoIOfCtC

And that is just one MANY reasons why English is hard! Even native speakers sometimes struggle with double and triple meanings of words

It can also just mean a group. Like an RPG party.

Even as an English native speaker, I remember thinking that too when I was younger.🤣 Hey, I guess we can make it a party, though🥳🎉🥳

even more general than that, it just refers to a group of people. it’s normal to make restaurant reservations as “firstname lastname, party of (however many people you plan to eat with),” or for a ride operator at an amusement park to ask “how many in your party?” when boarding the ride.

*Party* can also mean one of the participants in a legal proceeding or a contract, for example the person who brings a claim, or the person who defends a claim. “Both parties have agreed that the trial will begin in Augst 2,” or “the party that loses must pay the costs of the winning party,” or “the parties agree that taxes shall be paid by the purchasing party.” So you’ve got fun get-togethers, legal participants, political organizations, and adventure/exploration groups! It’s quite a word.

Or at restaurants you might hear a host say "John party of 5" meaning the group of 5 has a table waiting for them. In historical usage, a party can also indicate a group. For example,  the Donner Party  had incredibly bad luck and many of the men ended up dying in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California because they were snowed in. After the food ran out, other families would cook the corpses. No so happy circumstances.  In law, you can be a party to an agreement between two or more people.

Democratic Party 🚫 Republican Party 🚫 Pizza Party ✅️