Synonyms of section

section 1 of 2

noun

ˈsek-shən 

1

as in district

an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature

several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• district
• neighborhood
• zone
• quarter
• area
• precinct
• region
• part
• department
• nabe
• belt
• division
• locality
• ward
• enclave
• backyard
• hood
• ghetto
• place
• barrio
• 'hood

2

as in portion

one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled

had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

• portion
• part
• segment
• member
• length
• component
• partition
• element
• factor
• ingredient
• constituent
• fragment
• parcel
• moiety
• particle
• cut
• bit
• scrap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whole
• total
• sum
• compound
• aggregate
• composite
• totality

section

2 of 2

verb

as in to part

Related Words

• part
• separate
• fragment
• break up
• sever
• smash
• balloon
• go off
• mushroom
• dissever
• pop
• shatter
• unlink
• burst
• splinter
• blow up
• explode
• snap
• crack
• detonate
• split
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• tear
• shred
• rip
• rend
• crump
• rupture
• blow
• rive
• cleave
• tatter
• break

Dissimilar Words

• couple
• collapse
• combine
• join
• connect
• fuse
• mix
• unify
• implode
• unite
• knit
• associate
• link (up)
• conjugate
• marry
• yoke
• mate
• coalesce
• blend
• compound
• assemble
• chain
• hook
• interfuse
• mingle
• splice
• rejoin
• conjoin
• hitch
• reconnect
• recombine
• reunite
• reunify

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of section

Noun

Jay, a gay man in his thirties, is sectioned after a bipolar episode and refuses to accept his diagnosis. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025

This time last year, Hayley, 57, was sectioned and admitted to a psychiatric unit. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025

Verb

The effect was disastrous, my hair crimped weirdly, with sections shooting out in different directions like the discordant notes of an orchestra tuning up. —Rachel Kushner, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025

Apple’s response is Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), tagging sections of memory to enable a device integrity check before access is allowed. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

Phrases Containing section

• cross section