sectionalism

noun

sec·​tion·​al·​ism ˈsek-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 

: an exaggerated devotion to the interests of a region

Examples of sectionalism in a Sentence

a nation divided by sectionalism

Recent Examples on the Web

This geographic sectionalism has become so severe that Republicans often do not bother fielding candidates in urban legislative districts. —Jonathan Rodden, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2020

The pandemic has both clarified and exacerbated the already high cost of having a party system shaped by geographic sectionalism. —Jonathan Rodden, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2020

Economic differences, with the North’s industrialized model versus the South’s agrarian focus, deepened the sectionalism. —Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 1 Jan. 2024

In the antebellum United States, Northerners, and especially northern abolitionists, drew a contrast between (northern) nationalism and (southern) sectionalism. —Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019

While the Anti-Federalists rendered some devastating critiques of the Constitution, anti-federalism that leads to sectionalism or regionalism is no more appropriate for this moment than federalism. —Siva Vaidhyanathan, The New Republic, 7 Dec. 2022

Before 2018, Texas schools even taught that states’ rights and sectionalism—not slavery—were the leading causes of the Civil War. —Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2021

Teaching Tolerance said this teaching obscures the institution of slavery’s influence on factors like sectionalism, states' rights and economic disagreements. —al, 1 Mar. 2020

Alabama’s standards require students to identify sectionalism, slavery, states’ rights and economic disagreements as the reasons why Alabama succeeded from the union. —al, 1 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sectionalism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Kids Definition

sectionalism

noun

sec·​tion·​al·​ism ˈsek-shnə-ˌliz-əm 

-shən-ᵊl-ˌiz-

: too much devotion to the interests of a region