sector

1 of 2

noun

sec·​tor ˈsek-tər 

-ˌtȯr

1

a

: a geometric figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle

b(1)

: a subdivision of a defensive military position

(2)

: a portion of a military front or area of operation

c

: an area or portion resembling a sector

bilingual sector of town

—David Kleinberg

d

: a sociological, economic, or political subdivision of society

cooperation between the public and private sectors

—Peter Chapman

2

: a mathematical instrument consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint and marked with several scales

3

: a subdivision of a track on a computer disk

sectoral

ˈsek-t(ə-)rəl

adjective

sector

2 of 2

verb

sec·​tor ˈsek-tər 

sectored; sectoring ˈsek-t(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to divide into or furnish with sectors

Examples of sector in a Sentence

Noun

He was assigned to the northern sector.

Data is stored on the disk in 512-byte sectors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ken Henricks, owner and president of Alter Brewing Co. in suburban Chicago, said the increasing cost of cans could hurt the craft beer sector at a time of rising inflation and growing competition from large beer companies. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025

Companies across sectors considering whether to expand a product line may look at unemployment insurance claims from the Department of Labor to see if the overall market is weakening (claims rise) or improving (claims fall). —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2025

Verb

Key Banc downgrades Sherwin-Williams to sector weight from overweight KeyBanc downgraded the painting company on valuation. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2024

KeyBanc downgraded Bumble to sector weight from overweight, citing weak app store data and risks into the new year. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin, from Latin, cutter, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sector

• private sector
• public sector
• sub-sector

Rhymes for sector

• hector
• lector
• nectar
• rector
• specter
• spectre
• vector
• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector

Kids Definition

sector

noun

sec·​tor

ˈsek-tər,

-ˌtȯ(ə)r

1

a

: the part of a circle included between two radii

b

: an area assigned to a military commander to defend

2

: a part of society

the public sector

the industrial sector