factious

adjective

fac·​tious ˈfak-shəs 

: of or relating to faction: such as

a

: caused by faction

factious disputes

b

: inclined to faction or the formation of factions

c

: seditious

factiously adverb

factiousness noun

Examples of factious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Presidential Leadership Council is itself factious, and external competition leads to contention within it. —Maha Yahya, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2025

How the factious sides of the Democratic Party handle this will be an important test and will determine whether the race will be close this fall. —Ray Dalio, TIME, 22 July 2024

Even before October 7, Lebanon was a deeply factious country. —Maryclare Roche, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2024

Through these proxies, the mullahs became the kingmakers of Iraq’s factious politics. —Reuel Marc Gerecht, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2023

Sinn Fein appears on track to claim the top spot in elections in Northern Ireland on Thursday, marking the first time a party devoted to the unification of Ireland, north and south, would dominate in the region that remains a factious member of the United Kingdom. —Washington Post, 2 May 2022

There was an illusion of solidarity—really the underlying current was entirely factious. —The New Yorker, 23 May 2022

Just like that, a factious age of political gridlock and a problematic romance are born. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021

The road back to a united nation will be paved with virtuous acts of a virtuous people who act independently in both deeds and thoughts from the factious fanatics. —Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French factieux, borrowed from Latin factiōsus "busy, having powerful connections, of a faction, turbulent," from facti- (extracted from factiōn-, factiō "social set, group, faction") + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

circa 1527, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for factious

• fractious