tea party
noun
1
: an afternoon social gathering at which tea is served
2
[from the Boston Tea Party, name applied to the occasion in 1773 when a shipment of tea was thrown into Boston harbor in protest against the tax on imports]
: an exciting disturbance or proceeding
3
usually Tea Party
: a 21st century U.S. political movement in favor of lower taxes, fewer government regulations and programs, strict immigration control, and a strong military
"Tea Party" has become something of a catch-all term to describe an impassioned and empowered group of populist conservatives. They are largely antigovernment, a lot of them are self-described libertarians, and many say they are new to political activism. It is easy to think of them as a singular entity and a growing one.—
Mark Leibovich
Mark LeibovichConservative activists started holding "Tea Party" protests in 2009 to vent outrage over federal stimulus spending, the Wall Street bailout and rising national debt. The movement quickly had an electoral impact, culminating in the 2010 midterm elections when the GOP captured the House.—Martha T. Moore
Martha T. MooreExamples of tea party in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The evidence for this comes from a bonobo named Kanzi, who took part in three pretend tea party-style experiments conducted by two researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
And with Valentine's Day coming up fast, check out our list of nine restaurants with a romantic vibe, and 12 ideas to celebrate your sweetie as well as your galentines, from a tea party to a burlesque show to a day cruise.
—Kathleen Hill, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Give those apes a real tea party!
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In a set of experiments, a team of researchers offered a bonobo named Kanzi invisible juice and grapes, presenting the tests as something of a game, akin to a child’s make-believe tea party.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tea party
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Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
And with Valentine's Day coming up fast, check out our list of nine restaurants with a romantic vibe, and 12 ideas to celebrate your sweetie as well as your galentines, from a tea party to a burlesque show to a day cruise.
—Kathleen Hill, The Providence Journal, 7 Feb. 2026
Give those apes a real tea party!
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In a set of experiments, a team of researchers offered a bonobo named Kanzi invisible juice and grapes, presenting the tests as something of a game, akin to a child’s make-believe tea party.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tea party
Cite this Entry
“Tea party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tea%20party. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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