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

Luke, by contrast, is intent on reconciling Christianity with Roman rule—or, at least, demonstrating that this nascent sect poses no threat to the Empire. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Amanda, a 34-year-old mother of two, lives in Pennsylvania in a community which is home to many Mennonites, a Christian sect which tends to eschew vaccination. —Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025

Rights groups say that hundreds of civilians -- mostly from the Alawite minority sect to which Assad belongs -- were killed by factions in retaliation. —arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Both areas are home to Syria's Alawite community, the small Islamic sect to which the Assad family belongs, and have been a focus of security concerns amid Sharaa's rise to power. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for sect

• checked
• decked
• flecked
• hecht
• necked
• pecked
• trekked
• wrecked
• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect

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