American party

noun

See under know-nothing(def 3).

Also called Know-Nothing party.

Definition for american party (2 of 2)

know-nothing

[ noh-nuhth-ing ]

/ ˈnoʊˌnʌθ ɪŋ /

noun

an ignorant or totally uninformed person; ignoramus.

an agnostic.

(initial capital letters) U.S. History. a member of a political party (American party or Know-Nothing party) prominent from 1853 to 1856, whose aim was to keep control of the government in the hands of native-born citizens: so called because members originally professed ignorance of the party's activities.

a person whose anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, and other political attitudes recall the Know-Nothings.

adjective

grossly ignorant; totally uninformed.

agnostic.

(initial capital letters) of or relating to the Know-Nothings.

of or relating to a political know-nothing.

Origin of know-nothing

First recorded in 1815–25

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

know-noth·ing·ism, noun

British Dictionary definitions for american party

know-nothing

noun

informal, derogatory an ignorant person

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

American party

noun

Definition for american party (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Origin of know-nothing

OTHER WORDS FROM know-nothing

British Dictionary definitions for american party

noun