sect

1 of 2

noun

ˈsekt 

1

a

: a dissenting or schismatic religious body

especially : one regarded as extreme or heretical

b

: a religious denomination

2

archaic : sex sense 1

so is all her sect

—William Shakespeare

3

a

: a group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader

b

: party

c

: faction

sect

2 of 2

abbreviation

section; sectional

Synonyms

Noun

• bloc
• block
• body
• coalition
• faction
• party
• set
• side
• wing

Examples of sect in a Sentence

Noun

one sect of medical researchers holds the minority view that the disease is not caused by that virus

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Assad, while widely seen as an oppressive dictator and accused of using chemical weapons against his own people, was championed as a protector of Shiite Muslim sects, Christian communities, and other religious groups. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 30 Dec. 2024

There have been some sectarian attacks but mostly against members of Assad's minority Alawite sect. —Bassem Mroue, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Dec. 2024

About 10 percent of Syrians belong to the sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and Alawites dominated the ruling class and upper ranks of the military under the Assad dynasty. —Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024

Syria’s twenty-three million people include multiple Muslim sects, Christians, Druze, and Kurds. —Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English secte, from Anglo-French & Late Latin & Latin; Anglo-French, group, faction, from Late Latin secta organized ecclesiastical body, from Latin, course of action, way of life, probably from sectari to pursue, frequentative of sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

sect

noun

ˈsekt

1

a

: a religious group having beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main body

b

: a religious body consisting of members having similar beliefs

2

a

: a group of people having the same beliefs or following the same leader

b

: party sense 1

c

: faction