faction

1 of 2

noun

fac·​tion ˈfak-shən How to pronounce faction (audio)
1
: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique
The committee soon split into factions.
2
: party spirit especially when marked by dissension
faction, or the irreconcilable conflict of partiesErnest Barker
factional adjective
factionalism noun
factionally adverb

-faction

2 of 2

noun combining form

: making : -fication
petrifaction

Examples of faction in a Sentence

Noun The committee soon split into factions. several factions within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In groups that employ compartmentalization and cell structures, factions with independent interests and agendas can emerge. Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024 Berger thought immediately of Tucci for the role of Cardinal Bellini, a progressive American who is the de facto leader of the reformist faction of the conclave. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024 Lebanon’s economic collapse is so severe that the country’s political factions—which, apart from Hezbollah, have not fought for decades—lack the guns and ammunition to sustain a serious conflict. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 Both men encountered resistance from a more militant faction of the movement, which began to question the efficacy of nonviolence. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for faction 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French faccion, borrowed from Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making, social set, band, group, self-seeking political group," from facere "to make, bring about, place, classify" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: A doublet of faction is fashion entry 1, from the Gallo-Romance outcome of Latin factiō, which maintains only the meaning "act of making," sparsely attested outside of early Latin except in legal use.

Noun combining form

borrowed from Latin -factiōn-, -factiō (as in satisfactiōn-, satisfactiō satisfaction)

First Known Use

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of faction was in 1509

Dictionary Entries Near faction

Cite this Entry

“Faction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faction. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

faction

noun
fac·​tion ˈfak-shən How to pronounce faction (audio)
: a group acting together within a larger body (as a government) : clique
factional
-shnəl How to pronounce faction (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
factionalism noun

More from Merriam-Webster on faction

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