Partner: The Word That Quietly Replaced Several Others
A partner shares an activity or a life. The word has spread because it says what matters and leaves out what does not.
A partner shares something: a business, a dance, a life. The personal sense has spread widely in the past few decades because it works for married and unmarried couples alike and says nothing about gender. Forms, hospitals and employers now use it as the neutral default.
- A person you share a relationship with. *My partner and I.*
- A co-owner of a business. *A partner in the firm.*
- Someone you do an activity with. *A dance partner.*
- To work with. *The charity partnered with a supermarket.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | partner | A junior partner. |
| Plural | partners | Business partners. |
| Verb | partner | Partner with a school. |
| Noun | partnership | A limited partnership. |
| Related | spouse | Your spouse's income. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She was made a partner last year.In law and accountancy firms.
- Bring your partner to the ceremony.Neutral about marriage and gender.
- The two companies have partnered before.The verb, common in business writing.
Kinds of partnership
- General partnership — partners share liability fully
- Limited partnership — some partners have limited liability
- Silent partner — invests but does not manage
- Civil partnership — a legal relationship status in several countries
- Domestic partnership — a registered relationship, mainly American
From Middle English *partener*, an alteration of *parcener*, a joint heir, from Old French, influenced by *part*. The word was pulled towards *part* because sharing a part is exactly what a partner does.
Why has *partner* become so common?
Because it covers married and unmarried couples of any gender without asking anyone to explain their situation.
Partner or associate in a firm?
A partner shares ownership and profits. An associate is an employed professional, usually working towards partnership.