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party line

/ˌpɑrdi ˈlaɪn/
IPA guide

Other forms: party lines

A party line is a group's official opinion, policy, or agenda. Political parties tend to be happiest with legislators who closely stick to the party line, voting the way the party wants them to.

It's usually political parties and organizations that are described as having party lines — although other groups, like businesses, clubs, or religions, often have party lines they expect members to follow. You'll frequently hear the phrase "toe the party line," which means "stick to the official party message," something that commonly happens when a politician gives a speech. Long ago, a party line was also a telephone landline that was shared by several families.

Definitions of party line
  1. noun
    the policy of a political group
    “He won in a vote along party lines
    see moresee less
    type of:
    policy
    a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government
  2. noun
    a telephone line serving two or more subscribers
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘party line'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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