a social gathering, as of invited guests at a private home, for conversation, refreshments, entertainment, etc.

a cocktail party.

a group gathered for a special purpose or task

a fishing party; a search party.

a detachment, squad, or detail of troops assigned to perform some particular mission or service.

a group of persons with common purposes or opinions who support one side of a dispute, question, debate, etc.

a group of persons with common political opinions and purposes organized for gaining political influence and governmental control and for directing government policy

the Republican party; the Democratic party.

the system of taking sides on public or political questions or the like.

attachment or devotion to one side or faction; partisanship

to put considerations of party first.

Law .

one of the litigants in a legal proceeding; a plaintiff or defendant in a suit.

a signatory to a legal instrument.

a person participating in or otherwise privy to a crime.

a person or group that participates in some action, affair, plan, etc.; participant

He was a party to the merger deal.

the person under consideration; a specific individual

Look at the party in the green velvet shorts.

a person or, usually, two or more persons together patronizing a restaurant, attending a social or cultural function, etc.

The headwaiter asked how many were in our party; a party of 12 French physicists touring the labs; a party of one at the small table.

a person participating in a telephone conversation

I have your party on the line.

any occasion or activity likened to a social party, as specified; session

The couple in the next apartment are having their usual dish-throwing party.

an advantageous or pleasurable situation or combination of circumstances of some duration and often of questionable character; period of content, license, exemption, etc.

The police broke in and suddenly the party was over for the nation's most notorious gunman.

of or pertaining to a party or faction; partisan

party leaders.

of or for a social gathering

her new party dress.

being shared by or pertaining to two or more persons or things.

Heraldry . (of an escutcheon) having the field divided into a number of parts, usually two; parted.

to go to or give parties, esp. a series of parties.

to enjoy oneself thoroughly and without restraint; indulge in pleasure.

noun

affair , amusement , at-home , ball , banquet , barbecue , bash * , blowout * , carousal , carousing , celebration , cocktails , coffee klatch , coming-out , dinner , diversion * , do * , entertainment , feast , festive occasion , festivity , fete , fun , function , gala , get-together , luncheon , movable feast , orgy * , prom , reception , riot , shindig * , social , soiree , splurge * , spree * , tea , assembly , band , bevy , body , bunch , cluster , company , corps , covey , crew , crowd , detachment , force , gathering , mob , multitude , outfit , squad , team , troop , troupe , unit , alliance , association , bloc , cabal , clique , coalition , combination , combine , confederacy , coterie , electorate , faction , grouping , junta , league , ring , sect , set , side , union , being , character , creature , human , man , mortal , part , person , personage , somebody , someone , woman , actor , agent , cojuror , compurgator , confederate , contractor , defendant , litigant , partaker , participant , participator , plaintiff , plotter , sharer , occasion , cartel , player , homo , individual , life , soul , array , batch , bundle , clump , clutch , collection , knot , lot , bacchanal , bash , carouse , circle , clambake , dance , drawing-room , fiesta , junket , junto , levee , matine , orgy , picnic , potlatch , salon , shindig , shindy , shower , soire , spree , stag , wingding